Ozark nonprofit receives grant for social services

Rural Compassion encourages community development in rural areas by targeting mental health services, drug and alcohol recovery, housing, education, job training, and relationships between churches and communities. The nonprofit organization will use the grant to work with church leaders in the southeast region of the state, where poverty rates reach higher than 20 percent in some areas.

The grant is one of 420 awards given nationwide to faith-based organizations. The funds are designed to help grass-roots groups enhance their social services.