The Mental Health and Recovery Board has been awarded two Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants focused on addressing the opioid and psychostimulant crises in rural communities. The purpose of these grants is to enhance the prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals affected by opioid and psychostimulant misuse, ultimately improving the overall health and well-being of these communities.
Opioid Grant: This grant aims to combat the opioid epidemic in rural areas by supporting the development and expansion of comprehensive prevention, treatment, and recovery services. The focus is on increasing access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), providing overdose prevention education, and enhancing care coordination for individuals with opioid use disorders. Additionally, the grant supports the establishment of peer recovery support networks and the integration of mental health and addiction services with primary care providers.
Psychostimulant Grant: This grant addresses the increasing prevalence of psychostimulant misuse, such as methamphetamine and cocaine, in rural communities. It supports initiatives that focus on prevention, early intervention, and treatment services tailored to the specific needs of individuals affected by psychostimulant use disorders. The grant also aims to improve access to evidence-based therapies, enhance collaboration between healthcare providers, and foster community-based support networks for individuals in recovery.
The two HRSA grants can significantly improve the health of rural communities by:
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- Expanding Access to Care: By increasing the availability of specialized prevention, treatment, and recovery services, the grants ensure that more individuals affected by opioid and psychostimulant misuse can access the care they need, reducing the burden on emergency departments and other healthcare facilities.
- Enhancing Treatment Quality: The grants support the implementation of evidence-based practices and therapies, which can lead to better treatment outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders, ultimately improving their overall health and well-being.
- Strengthening Community Support: Through the establishment of peer recovery networks and increased collaboration between healthcare providers, the grants foster a supportive environment for individuals in recovery, promoting long-term success and reducing the risk of relapse.
- Reducing Stigma: By raising awareness and educating the community about the nature of substance use disorders, the grants can help reduce stigma and promote a more compassionate and understanding environment, encouraging individuals to seek help when needed.
HRSA RCORP KORR (Knox Opioid Response and Recovery) Consortium Membership
- Alcohol and Drug Freedom Center of Knox County
- Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio
- Community Roots
- Knox County Common Pleas Court
- Knox Public Health
- Knox Community Health Center FQHC
- Family Life Counseling and Psychiatric Services
- Knox County Sheriff’s Office
- Mount Vernon Municipal Court
- New Directions
- Northwest Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
- Riverside Recovery Services
- The Main Place
- Touch-Pointe Marriage & Family Resources
Grant Programs – Successes
- Freedom Center has received a license by the Ohio State Pharmacy Board to expand the Knox County Jail MAT program and add Sublocade in addition to Vivitrol.
- Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio has opened the Care Now Clinic, a behavioral health urgent care, in Mt. Vernon. The clinic provides immediate access to care for individuals 12 and older regardless of their ability to pay. Services include counseling, crisis intervention, care coordination, peer support, emergency psychiatry, and linkage & referral. SBIRT is conducted at this site.
- Freedom Center has provided 2631 students with school-base prevention services. Over 99% of students participating in Too Good for Drugs, Second Step or Word of Mouth demonstrated increased skills in decision-making, social competency and drug resistance skills. 20 additional youth participating in Prime for Life with 100% reporting improved attitudes and perceptions of the risk related to substance use
More grant program successes
|
Project |
Outcomes |
Organization |
|
Overdose Prevention with Naloxone Increase availability of Naloxone in Knox County |
People Trained · 175 in year 1 (300) · 586 in year 2 (350) Kits Distributed · 175 in year 1 (300) · 431 in year 2 (350) Naloxone Boxes · 11 boxes purchased in year 3 |
Knox Public Health KSAAT |
|
SBIRT Evidenced-based screening administered by non SUD professionals to identifying potential substance use issues that leads to prevention, early intervention, and referral to treatment |
Number of Provider Sites – 3 (3) Staff Trained – 17 (10) People Receiving SBIRT · 185 in year 1 (150) · 528 in year 2 (250) |
BHP Knox Community FQHC The Main Place |
|
Health Education & Infectious Screening – SUD Community Nurse SUD Community – based Nurse A full time SUD nurse to provide health education and support to high-risk SUD populations including pregnant women in community-based settings. Services include health education, infectious disease screening, overdose prevention services including naloxone education and distribution and support of other harm reduction strategies, wound care, and linkage to medical and behavioral health care services |
People Educated About Infectious Diseases and Overdose Prevention · 141 in year one (75) · 161 in year two (150) People Receiving Safe Sex Supplies and Fentanyl Test Strips · 72 in year one (75) · 182 in year two (150) |
Freedom Center |
|
Adult Community Collaborative Team To review and coordinate care for complex and high risk cases with SUD/OUD and mental health problems. |
High Risk SUD/OUD Cases Reviewed · 13 in year one (8) · 12 in year two (8) |
BHP |
|
Knox County Overdose Response Team |
Overdose Cases Received ORT Follow-up · 56 in year one (40) · 74 in year two (50) |
The Main Place Freedom Center |
|
Annual First Responder & Law Enforcement Professional Development Workshop To plan and offer annual first responder and law enforcement professional development workshop focusing on SUD/OUD |
Number of Participants · 200 in year 2 (125) |
Touchpointe Marriage & Family Resources |
|
Discharge and Linkage Coordinators Coordinated care management and navigation for adults discharged from inpatient SUD or residential treatment to community settings |
People Receiving Discharge Coordination and Linkage Services · 99 in year one (70) · 199 in year two (80) |
The Freedom Center
Riverside Recovery Services |
|
Refresh – Women’s Sober Support Community Sober women’s community that provides recreation, exercise, nutrition education & spiritual fellowship |
People Participating in Sober Support Activities · 84 in year one (20) · 38 in year two (20) |
Touchpointe Marriage & Family Resources |
Overall, the HRSA grants for rural communities addressing opioids and psychostimulants play a vital role in enhancing the quality and accessibility of care, ultimately contributing to healthier and more resilient communities.
