Grantee Projects

AK

The Palmer, Alaska, Police Department is leading this project on behalf of the Drug Endangered Children Multidisciplinary Task Force (MDT). The MDT was created to address gaps in the response to drug endangered children and their families living in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough, to improve communication among agencies serving these populations, and to create a streamlined approach to providing family-centered, early intervention services to this population, with a goal of reducing both child victimization and repeat interactions between families and MDT member agencies. Grant funds will be used to hire a full-time MDT and drug endangered children (DEC) project coordinator to support MDT member agencies in adhering to newly established protocols, keep agencies on task, and collect, track, and analyze relevant data to determine the MDT’s efficacy in achieving its goals. Activities under this project include (1) real-time data collection and evaluation, which will help the MDT better understand the extent of the issue, the number of families referred to services, and determine the efficacy of the MDT’s efforts and adjust processes as needed; and (2) law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion, through early identification and referrals of drug endangered children and their families to appropriate services to reduce repeat interactions. Roughly 50 percent of the project’s proposed budget is allocated to these uses, either through direct hires or contracts to hire family advocates to provide services and an evaluator to assist in identifying, collecting, and evaluating relevant data. Priority considerations addressed in this application include advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities (Alaska Native populations). This project serves residents of Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough and includes a partnership between the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Youth and Family Network, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Knik Tribe, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Matanuska Susitna Borough School District, Palmer Police Department, State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services, Southcentral Regional Office, State of Alaska, Attorney General’s Office, Civil Division, State of Alaska Palmer District Attorney’s Office, Set Free Alaska, The Children’s Place (Regional Child Advocacy Center), and Wasilla Police Department.

City of Palmer

Alaska

The Palmer, Alaska, Police Department is leading this project on behalf of the Drug Endangered Children Multidisciplinary Task Force (MDT). The MDT was created to address gaps in the response to drug endangered children and their families living in Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough, to improve communication among agencies serving these populations, and to create a streamlined approach to providing family-centered, early intervention services to this population, with a goal of reducing both child victimization and repeat interactions between families and MDT member agencies. Grant funds will be used to hire a full-time MDT and drug endangered children (DEC) project coordinator to support MDT member agencies in adhering to newly established protocols, keep agencies on task, and collect, track, and analyze relevant data to determine the MDT’s efficacy in achieving its goals. Activities under this project include (1) real-time data collection and evaluation, which will help the MDT better understand the extent of the issue, the number of families referred to services, and determine the efficacy of the MDT’s efforts and adjust processes as needed; and (2) law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion, through early identification and referrals of drug endangered children and their families to appropriate services to reduce repeat interactions. Roughly 50 percent of the project’s proposed budget is allocated to these uses, either through direct hires or contracts to hire family advocates to provide services and an evaluator to assist in identifying, collecting, and evaluating relevant data. Priority considerations addressed in this application include advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities (Alaska Native populations). This project serves residents of Alaska’s Matanuska-Susitna Borough and includes a partnership between the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Youth and Family Network, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, Knik Tribe, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, Matanuska Susitna Borough School District, Palmer Police Department, State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services, Southcentral Regional Office, State of Alaska, Attorney General’s Office, Civil Division, State of Alaska Palmer District Attorney’s Office, Set Free Alaska, The Children’s Place (Regional Child Advocacy Center), and Wasilla Police Department.

AR

The City of Searcy is applying for a Category 1 award in the amount of $600,000. The Searcy Police Department Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse (COSSA) project will promote a higher level of cooperation and collaboration among the local agencies; improve the effectiveness of law enforcement to combat illicit opioid use, possession, and distribution and to improve interdiction efforts through training that focuses on up-to-date and relevant information about opioid misuse protocols, the importance of sharing information statewide, and collaboration between Drug Task Force members and law enforcement in general; and support and offer assistance to those affected by opioid use and opioid overdose. This collaborative effort will produce more effective investigations, prosecutions, treatment, and recovery involving opioids. This project serves Searcy, the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, which has a population of 23,660. The project includes partnerships between the Searcy Police Department, the White County Sheriff’s Office, the Prairie County Sheriff’s Office, the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, and health and rehabilitation community partners.

City of Searcy

Arkansas

The City of Searcy is applying for a Category 1 award in the amount of $600,000. The Searcy Police Department Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse (COSSA) project will promote a higher level of cooperation and collaboration among the local agencies; improve the effectiveness of law enforcement to combat illicit opioid use, possession, and distribution and to improve interdiction efforts through training that focuses on up-to-date and relevant information about opioid misuse protocols, the importance of sharing information statewide, and collaboration between Drug Task Force members and law enforcement in general; and support and offer assistance to those affected by opioid use and opioid overdose. This collaborative effort will produce more effective investigations, prosecutions, treatment, and recovery involving opioids. This project serves Searcy, the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, which has a population of 23,660. The project includes partnerships between the Searcy Police Department, the White County Sheriff’s Office, the Prairie County Sheriff’s Office, the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force, and health and rehabilitation community partners.

AR

This project will serve the Sixteenth Judicial District in northern Arkansas, a rural region comprised of five counties: Izard, Stone, Fulton, Cleburne, and Independence. The mission of this project is to reduce the impact of substance misuse, including overdose deaths, in the area. This will be accomplished by helping more people with substance use disorder (SUD) receive treatment instead of entering the criminal justice system. This project will also help increase community awareness about substance misuse and improve the ability of law enforcement agencies and communities to respond to overdoses. The primary focus for activities will be law enforcement deflection/diversion and access to peer recovery support services, and most of the activities will be conducted by COSSAP investigators and peer recovery support specialists (PRSS). Peers are individuals who have experienced SUD, are in sustained recovery, and have been trained to help others achieve recovery. By expanding access to peer support services, this project will connect more people with SUD to the treatment they desperately need. COSSAP investigators are deputies from the Izard County Sheriff’s office who are also assigned to the existing Drug Task Force for the district. Having designated COSSAP agents on the district task force will ensure that more cases involving substance use can be referred for peer support and that treatment arrangements can be made as quickly as possible. This project will also include outreach and education activities across the district and will improve the accuracy and efficiency of data collection. Allowable activities include: (1) enhancing access to peer recovery support services (35 percent); (2) law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion (35 percent); (3) embedding PRSS at multiple points of Sequential Intercept Model (10 percent); (4) prevention programs to connect law enforcement agencies with K-12 students (10 percent); (5) drug take-back programs (5 percent); (6) data collection (5 percent).

Izard County

Arkansas

This project will serve the Sixteenth Judicial District in northern Arkansas, a rural region comprised of five counties: Izard, Stone, Fulton, Cleburne, and Independence. The mission of this project is to reduce the impact of substance misuse, including overdose deaths, in the area. This will be accomplished by helping more people with substance use disorder (SUD) receive treatment instead of entering the criminal justice system. This project will also help increase community awareness about substance misuse and improve the ability of law enforcement agencies and communities to respond to overdoses. The primary focus for activities will be law enforcement deflection/diversion and access to peer recovery support services, and most of the activities will be conducted by COSSAP investigators and peer recovery support specialists (PRSS). Peers are individuals who have experienced SUD, are in sustained recovery, and have been trained to help others achieve recovery. By expanding access to peer support services, this project will connect more people with SUD to the treatment they desperately need. COSSAP investigators are deputies from the Izard County Sheriff’s office who are also assigned to the existing Drug Task Force for the district. Having designated COSSAP agents on the district task force will ensure that more cases involving substance use can be referred for peer support and that treatment arrangements can be made as quickly as possible. This project will also include outreach and education activities across the district and will improve the accuracy and efficiency of data collection. Allowable activities include: (1) enhancing access to peer recovery support services (35 percent); (2) law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion (35 percent); (3) embedding PRSS at multiple points of Sequential Intercept Model (10 percent); (4) prevention programs to connect law enforcement agencies with K-12 students (10 percent); (5) drug take-back programs (5 percent); (6) data collection (5 percent).

CA

The Hoopa Valley Tribal Court is applying for a Category 1C award in the amount of $600,000. The Hoopa Tribal Wellness Court Pre-Booking Enhancement will support ongoing operations and service expansion under its Adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Court. This project intends to increase and standardize services for individuals with substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. While many of these individuals are court-involved, services will also be made available to anyone seeking assistance, with priority for special populations. The special populations include pregnant women, individuals with or at-risk of HIV/AIDS, older adults caring for a minor child due to foster care involvement, and individuals entering the community from incarceration. This project utilizes a hub-and-spoke model to centralize service delivery for Wellness Court participants and increase favorable outcomes as they journey to health. Funding for medication-assisted treatment is requested to help assure that individuals working through opioid misuse have the support needed through full recovery. This project serves enrolled citizens of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and AI/AN citizens enrolled in other tribes living within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. The Hoopa Valley Tribe and its reservations are within Humboldt County, California. The project includes partnerships between the K’ima:w Medical Center, the Court's Probation Services, and the Judicial Project Advisory Team.

Hoopa Valley Tribal Council

California

The Hoopa Valley Tribal Court is applying for a Category 1C award in the amount of $600,000. The Hoopa Tribal Wellness Court Pre-Booking Enhancement will support ongoing operations and service expansion under its Adult Tribal Healing to Wellness Court. This project intends to increase and standardize services for individuals with substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. While many of these individuals are court-involved, services will also be made available to anyone seeking assistance, with priority for special populations. The special populations include pregnant women, individuals with or at-risk of HIV/AIDS, older adults caring for a minor child due to foster care involvement, and individuals entering the community from incarceration. This project utilizes a hub-and-spoke model to centralize service delivery for Wellness Court participants and increase favorable outcomes as they journey to health. Funding for medication-assisted treatment is requested to help assure that individuals working through opioid misuse have the support needed through full recovery. This project serves enrolled citizens of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and AI/AN citizens enrolled in other tribes living within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. The Hoopa Valley Tribe and its reservations are within Humboldt County, California. The project includes partnerships between the K’ima:w Medical Center, the Court's Probation Services, and the Judicial Project Advisory Team.

CO

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office services an area with a population of over 500,000. The project will allow the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office to expand evidence-based substance use treatment and peer recovery support services to individuals in custody and provide critical reentry needs such as transitional housing and peer recovery support services. These services are essential to supporting treatment engagement. The project addresses COSSUP's allowable use of implementing evidence-based substance use disorder treatment related to opioids, stimulants, and other drugs and recovery support services for pre-trial and post-trial populations leaving jail. Deliverables include providing discharge planning for 750 detention center residents over the life of the grant, providing transitional housing for 262 indigent detention residents transitioning from the detention facility to the community over the life of the grant, and providing virtual peer recovery support services to up to 503 individuals as they transition from the detention facility to the community.

Arapahoe County Colorado

Colorado

The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office services an area with a population of over 500,000. The project will allow the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office to expand evidence-based substance use treatment and peer recovery support services to individuals in custody and provide critical reentry needs such as transitional housing and peer recovery support services. These services are essential to supporting treatment engagement. The project addresses COSSUP's allowable use of implementing evidence-based substance use disorder treatment related to opioids, stimulants, and other drugs and recovery support services for pre-trial and post-trial populations leaving jail. Deliverables include providing discharge planning for 750 detention center residents over the life of the grant, providing transitional housing for 262 indigent detention residents transitioning from the detention facility to the community over the life of the grant, and providing virtual peer recovery support services to up to 503 individuals as they transition from the detention facility to the community.

DE

Delaware is disproportionately impacted by the abuse of illicit opioids and prescription drugs as seen in our high rates of overdose deaths from heroin and other opioids and lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities. Delaware is third in the nation for rates of overdose fatalities. In 2021, 515 Delawareans died from a drug overdose. The Delaware COSSAP Saving Lives will implement new opioid-intervention programs in six geographically diverse localities and establish pre-arrest or post-arrest law enforcement diversion programs for individuals who commit non-violent, drug-related offenses by utilizing community-based substance use disorder and behavioral health services. This project coordinates services statewide and two geographic locations are in rural parts of the state. Grant funds will implement strategies identified in the statewide coordinated plan to provide law enforcement resources to address the opioid epidemic in Delaware (38 percent of funds). Funds will include coordinating social services with law enforcement for response to children impacted during a drug overdose (10 percent of funds). Funds will expand the take-back program for unused controlled substances found in the home, hospitals, and long-term care facilities (2 percent of funds). The project goals include: (1) increase number of law enforcement diversion programs; (2) reduce incidence of overdose deaths; (3) increase transitional housing availability (20 percent of funds); (4) increase services to youth impacted by addiction; and (5) produce an evaluation report. The project includes partnerships between the Criminal Justice Council, Division of Public Health’s Office of Health Crisis Response, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, and Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police. The project includes an evaluator from the University of Delaware.

Executive Office of the Governor Of Delaware

Delaware

Delaware is disproportionately impacted by the abuse of illicit opioids and prescription drugs as seen in our high rates of overdose deaths from heroin and other opioids and lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities. Delaware is third in the nation for rates of overdose fatalities. In 2021, 515 Delawareans died from a drug overdose. The Delaware COSSAP Saving Lives will implement new opioid-intervention programs in six geographically diverse localities and establish pre-arrest or post-arrest law enforcement diversion programs for individuals who commit non-violent, drug-related offenses by utilizing community-based substance use disorder and behavioral health services. This project coordinates services statewide and two geographic locations are in rural parts of the state. Grant funds will implement strategies identified in the statewide coordinated plan to provide law enforcement resources to address the opioid epidemic in Delaware (38 percent of funds). Funds will include coordinating social services with law enforcement for response to children impacted during a drug overdose (10 percent of funds). Funds will expand the take-back program for unused controlled substances found in the home, hospitals, and long-term care facilities (2 percent of funds). The project goals include: (1) increase number of law enforcement diversion programs; (2) reduce incidence of overdose deaths; (3) increase transitional housing availability (20 percent of funds); (4) increase services to youth impacted by addiction; and (5) produce an evaluation report. The project includes partnerships between the Criminal Justice Council, Division of Public Health’s Office of Health Crisis Response, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, and Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police. The project includes an evaluator from the University of Delaware.

DE

The Executive Office of the Governor of Delaware - Criminal Justice Council will implement new opioid-intervention programs in five geographically diverse localities: Dover (Kent County), Smyrna (Kent County), Millsboro (Sussex County), Seaford/Laurel (Sussex County), and Georgetown/Lewes/Milton (Sussex County). The project goals are to: (1) increase the number of law enforcement diversion programs; (2) reduce overdose deaths; (3) increase transitional housing availability; and (4) increase services for youth impacted by opioid overdoses. One initiative will involve establishing pre-arrest or post-arrest law enforcement diversion programs (using the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative [PAARI] model) for individuals who commit low level, nonviolent, drug-related offenses by utilizing community-based substance abuse and behavioral health services. The project will also include identifying cases where youth are impacted by an overdose and providing evidence-based responses, providing transitional or post recovery housing for individuals, and improving the collection/integration of data by purchasing a statewide case management system for law enforcement and Delaware’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

Executive Office of the Governor of Delaware

Delaware

The Executive Office of the Governor of Delaware - Criminal Justice Council will implement new opioid-intervention programs in five geographically diverse localities: Dover (Kent County), Smyrna (Kent County), Millsboro (Sussex County), Seaford/Laurel (Sussex County), and Georgetown/Lewes/Milton (Sussex County). The project goals are to: (1) increase the number of law enforcement diversion programs; (2) reduce overdose deaths; (3) increase transitional housing availability; and (4) increase services for youth impacted by opioid overdoses. One initiative will involve establishing pre-arrest or post-arrest law enforcement diversion programs (using the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative [PAARI] model) for individuals who commit low level, nonviolent, drug-related offenses by utilizing community-based substance abuse and behavioral health services. The project will also include identifying cases where youth are impacted by an overdose and providing evidence-based responses, providing transitional or post recovery housing for individuals, and improving the collection/integration of data by purchasing a statewide case management system for law enforcement and Delaware’s Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.

DE

The New Castle County Division of Police is proposing to expand Hero Help, a law enforcement led diversion by creating a team (substance abuse clinician, nurse, police officer, case manager, victim advocate) embedded in the patrol division, to respond immediately to 9-1-1 calls for service. Grant funds support a full-time project coordinator, nurse, child victim advocate (respond to overdose where children are impacted) and a licensed clinician. Additionally, to improve analytic capacity, develop a data collection tool to capture near real-time fatal and nonfatal overdoses. University of Delaware, Center for Drug and Health Studies, and Daniel O’Connell will serve as the research partner.

New Castle County

Delaware

The New Castle County Division of Police is proposing to expand Hero Help, a law enforcement led diversion by creating a team (substance abuse clinician, nurse, police officer, case manager, victim advocate) embedded in the patrol division, to respond immediately to 9-1-1 calls for service. Grant funds support a full-time project coordinator, nurse, child victim advocate (respond to overdose where children are impacted) and a licensed clinician. Additionally, to improve analytic capacity, develop a data collection tool to capture near real-time fatal and nonfatal overdoses. University of Delaware, Center for Drug and Health Studies, and Daniel O’Connell will serve as the research partner.

FL

The City of Orlando is applying for a Category 1 award in the amount of $685,458. The Orlando Police Department (OPD) Comprehensive Opioid Victim Advocacy and Enforcement Program will strengthen OPD’s overdose response efforts to both victims and families and free up investigators to close currently open cases. This will be accomplished, in part, by hiring two victim advocates who will focus on providing more in-depth victim services for survivors and families of overdose victims through embedded social services. The project will also increase investigator capacity to investigate overdoses and prosecute drug dealers by lessening the burden on investigators to follow up with families. We are also requesting funds for overtime pay for the sworn members of the Overdose Investigative Unit, who will have more time to focus on investigations and an increased caseload capacity once the victim advocates are hired and taking care of the social services aspects of the response to an overdose. Additional funds requested will allow three members of the Unit to travel to scheduled grant workshops in Year 2 and Year 3 of the grant. Funding is also being requested to provide the Overdose Investigative Unit with a laser Fentanyl detection device. This device will help to ensure the safety of the Victim Advocates, investigating officers, and the families of the victims as they will help create situational awareness of the presence of Fentanyl at overdose scenes. A second goal of the project will be to create safer communities by eliminating opioids and other illegal substances. To help facilitate this goal, we request funding for the purchase of one night vision device with a mount to facilitate agents’ ability to conduct surveillance in low-light environments. We will also utilize funds to purchase covert cameras to be placed in locations with high drug traffic activity. The covert cameras will be used to gather information on suspects and acquire probable cause for search warrants where drugs are being sold. It is anticipated that the footage captured on these cameras will help facilitate suspect identification and prosecutorial success while taking deadly drugs off the streets and helping save lives. We also request funding to purchase two high-powered computers to run a software product called Cellebrite Reader. Overdose investigations into opioid-related overdose deaths and the successful identification of the primary and additional suspects responsible often lead to collecting a suspect’s cell phone(s) as evidence. Once a search warrant is signed, the Digital Forensic Unit conducts a physical examination of the device. However, the Digital Forensic Unit has limited resources and time to undertake prolonged data analysis. Therefore, the device’s data is transferred to a hard drive and returned to the detective for research, review, and analysis utilizing a program called Cellebrite Reader, which allows for the quick and efficient review of large data files. While OPD currently owns the software, and it is being used successfully within its Homicide and Special Victims Units, the Overdose Investigative Unit requires the purchase of computers with architecture powerful enough to run it. These computers will not be on the City Network and will not be serviced through City IT. They will be instrumental in comprehensively and efficiently collecting data from suspects' cell phones, collecting evidence, and assisting with investigations. The combination of the night vision devices, the covert cameras, and the computers to run Cellebrite Reader software will help in our goal to increase investigator capacity to take dangerous opioids, stimulants, and other illegal drugs and those who sell them off the streets. Priority considerations addressed in this application include high rates of overdose deaths in the City of Orlando.

City of Orlando

Florida

The City of Orlando is applying for a Category 1 award in the amount of $685,458. The Orlando Police Department (OPD) Comprehensive Opioid Victim Advocacy and Enforcement Program will strengthen OPD’s overdose response efforts to both victims and families and free up investigators to close currently open cases. This will be accomplished, in part, by hiring two victim advocates who will focus on providing more in-depth victim services for survivors and families of overdose victims through embedded social services. The project will also increase investigator capacity to investigate overdoses and prosecute drug dealers by lessening the burden on investigators to follow up with families. We are also requesting funds for overtime pay for the sworn members of the Overdose Investigative Unit, who will have more time to focus on investigations and an increased caseload capacity once the victim advocates are hired and taking care of the social services aspects of the response to an overdose. Additional funds requested will allow three members of the Unit to travel to scheduled grant workshops in Year 2 and Year 3 of the grant. Funding is also being requested to provide the Overdose Investigative Unit with a laser Fentanyl detection device. This device will help to ensure the safety of the Victim Advocates, investigating officers, and the families of the victims as they will help create situational awareness of the presence of Fentanyl at overdose scenes. A second goal of the project will be to create safer communities by eliminating opioids and other illegal substances. To help facilitate this goal, we request funding for the purchase of one night vision device with a mount to facilitate agents’ ability to conduct surveillance in low-light environments. We will also utilize funds to purchase covert cameras to be placed in locations with high drug traffic activity. The covert cameras will be used to gather information on suspects and acquire probable cause for search warrants where drugs are being sold. It is anticipated that the footage captured on these cameras will help facilitate suspect identification and prosecutorial success while taking deadly drugs off the streets and helping save lives. We also request funding to purchase two high-powered computers to run a software product called Cellebrite Reader. Overdose investigations into opioid-related overdose deaths and the successful identification of the primary and additional suspects responsible often lead to collecting a suspect’s cell phone(s) as evidence. Once a search warrant is signed, the Digital Forensic Unit conducts a physical examination of the device. However, the Digital Forensic Unit has limited resources and time to undertake prolonged data analysis. Therefore, the device’s data is transferred to a hard drive and returned to the detective for research, review, and analysis utilizing a program called Cellebrite Reader, which allows for the quick and efficient review of large data files. While OPD currently owns the software, and it is being used successfully within its Homicide and Special Victims Units, the Overdose Investigative Unit requires the purchase of computers with architecture powerful enough to run it. These computers will not be on the City Network and will not be serviced through City IT. They will be instrumental in comprehensively and efficiently collecting data from suspects' cell phones, collecting evidence, and assisting with investigations. The combination of the night vision devices, the covert cameras, and the computers to run Cellebrite Reader software will help in our goal to increase investigator capacity to take dangerous opioids, stimulants, and other illegal drugs and those who sell them off the streets. Priority considerations addressed in this application include high rates of overdose deaths in the City of Orlando.

FL

The Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator proposes that five established family dependency drug courts increase the number of families they serve and it proposes to institute/enhance peer-support programs; incorporate medication-assisted treatment; establish substance use disorder prevention programs for the children whose parents are participants in family dependency drug court; execute evidence-based, parent-child relationship-strengthening programs; strengthen peer-to-peer collaboration among sites with an annual all-sites meeting and cross-site visits; and increase training and technical assistance regarding substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. This project serves family dependency drug courts in Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Marion, and Citrus counties. Dr. Barbara Andraka-Christou and her team from the University of Central Florida will serve as the evaluator for this project.

Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator

Florida

The Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator proposes that five established family dependency drug courts increase the number of families they serve and it proposes to institute/enhance peer-support programs; incorporate medication-assisted treatment; establish substance use disorder prevention programs for the children whose parents are participants in family dependency drug court; execute evidence-based, parent-child relationship-strengthening programs; strengthen peer-to-peer collaboration among sites with an annual all-sites meeting and cross-site visits; and increase training and technical assistance regarding substance use disorder and opioid use disorder. This project serves family dependency drug courts in Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Marion, and Citrus counties. Dr. Barbara Andraka-Christou and her team from the University of Central Florida will serve as the evaluator for this project.

GA

The Douglas County Community Services Board (DCCSB) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $1,196,998. The Douglas County COSSAP Postbooking Pilot program will be implemented by DCCSB and the Recovery Community Organization (RCO) within the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office's Jail Division (DCJ) to identify and refer individuals needing substance misuse treatment. DCCSB will provide treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, referring out individuals who need more intensive treatment. Participating individuals will be connected to the Never Alone Clubhouse, a safe space where members of the recovery community can form positive connections. Upon completing treatment, individuals will receive a certificate of completion for judges to consider for charges and sentencing. Additionally, DCCSB aims to increase access to care by helping individuals overcome financial hurdles to receiving treatment: individuals will receive an average of $2,000 of treatment services in lieu of court-mandated services. The pilot also seeks to separate substance misuse treatment from the judicial system to increase the number of individuals seeking treatment and improve engagement. DCJ will refer approximately ten individuals per month. The final goal is to connect individuals to a peer recovery community to decrease the likelihood of substance misuse and increase the likelihood of discontinuing criminogenic behavior. By the end of the project, 360 individuals in Douglas County will have the option of connecting with RCO for peer support before trial. The project serves Douglas County, which has a population of 148,981. The project includes partnerships with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office's Jail Division and RCO. Priority considerations addressed in this application include promoting the civil rights of access to care and building trust between law enforcement and the community.

Douglas County Community Service Board

Georgia

The Douglas County Community Services Board (DCCSB) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $1,196,998. The Douglas County COSSAP Postbooking Pilot program will be implemented by DCCSB and the Recovery Community Organization (RCO) within the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office's Jail Division (DCJ) to identify and refer individuals needing substance misuse treatment. DCCSB will provide treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, referring out individuals who need more intensive treatment. Participating individuals will be connected to the Never Alone Clubhouse, a safe space where members of the recovery community can form positive connections. Upon completing treatment, individuals will receive a certificate of completion for judges to consider for charges and sentencing. Additionally, DCCSB aims to increase access to care by helping individuals overcome financial hurdles to receiving treatment: individuals will receive an average of $2,000 of treatment services in lieu of court-mandated services. The pilot also seeks to separate substance misuse treatment from the judicial system to increase the number of individuals seeking treatment and improve engagement. DCJ will refer approximately ten individuals per month. The final goal is to connect individuals to a peer recovery community to decrease the likelihood of substance misuse and increase the likelihood of discontinuing criminogenic behavior. By the end of the project, 360 individuals in Douglas County will have the option of connecting with RCO for peer support before trial. The project serves Douglas County, which has a population of 148,981. The project includes partnerships with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office's Jail Division and RCO. Priority considerations addressed in this application include promoting the civil rights of access to care and building trust between law enforcement and the community.

KS

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s All Hands on DECK (Drug Endangered Children in Kansas) is a project designed to prevent and mitigate adverse childhood experiences, specifically targeting drug endangered children (DEC), those who are found in environments where illegal drugs are manufactured, sold, distributed, used or where there is other significant evidence of illegal drugs. Approximately 140,860 Kansas children are living in environments where their parent or caregiver uses substances, and an estimated 5,155 Kansas infants are born exposed to substances every year. Recent data show Kansas has had increases in drug overdoses and deaths that are higher than the national average. Drug endangered children are much more likely to use substances themselves; have chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and obesity; experience mental health issues; and have social problems including financial difficulties and employment challenges. The comprehensive statewide program addresses substance use and misuse, promotes public safety, reduces overdose deaths, and supports access to prevention, harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery services in Kansas communities and multiple systems including the justice system. The goals of this project are to (1) improve identification of and response to drug endangered children in Kansas by providing training, increasing collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches, and implementing a robust subaward component; (2) increase awareness of drug endangered children in Kansas through development of a statewide media campaign, an increase in real-time data collection and dissemination, and integration of DEC awareness into existing initiatives like drug take back days; and 3) build the capacity of project partners to implement a statewide DEC initiative. The project is designed and implemented with an equity frame and will target those who have been underserved and/or adversely affected by inequality. The project divides the state into six regions to ensure geographic equity and will target all four Kansas tribes-- Iowa, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, and Sac and Fox. This project is focused on changing the trajectory for children suffering the negative impacts of living in environments where drugs are present and will develop a model that can be replicated throughout Kansas and across the United States.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Kansas

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s All Hands on DECK (Drug Endangered Children in Kansas) is a project designed to prevent and mitigate adverse childhood experiences, specifically targeting drug endangered children (DEC), those who are found in environments where illegal drugs are manufactured, sold, distributed, used or where there is other significant evidence of illegal drugs. Approximately 140,860 Kansas children are living in environments where their parent or caregiver uses substances, and an estimated 5,155 Kansas infants are born exposed to substances every year. Recent data show Kansas has had increases in drug overdoses and deaths that are higher than the national average. Drug endangered children are much more likely to use substances themselves; have chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and obesity; experience mental health issues; and have social problems including financial difficulties and employment challenges. The comprehensive statewide program addresses substance use and misuse, promotes public safety, reduces overdose deaths, and supports access to prevention, harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery services in Kansas communities and multiple systems including the justice system. The goals of this project are to (1) improve identification of and response to drug endangered children in Kansas by providing training, increasing collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches, and implementing a robust subaward component; (2) increase awareness of drug endangered children in Kansas through development of a statewide media campaign, an increase in real-time data collection and dissemination, and integration of DEC awareness into existing initiatives like drug take back days; and 3) build the capacity of project partners to implement a statewide DEC initiative. The project is designed and implemented with an equity frame and will target those who have been underserved and/or adversely affected by inequality. The project divides the state into six regions to ensure geographic equity and will target all four Kansas tribes-- Iowa, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, and Sac and Fox. This project is focused on changing the trajectory for children suffering the negative impacts of living in environments where drugs are present and will develop a model that can be replicated throughout Kansas and across the United States.

KY

The proposed project, Kentucky Comprehensive Advocacy and Resource Efforts (K-CARE), will help to ensure that individuals negatively impacted by opioids are provided with support in the form of a community resource coordinator (CRC). K-CARE will place CRCs with Kentucky’s four (4) civil legal services providers, which provides access to CRCs for all 120 Kentucky counties via the civil legal service placements, as well as targeted support for other projects that align with the original intention of the funding. Those other projects included a fifth civil legal services provider who offers support to individuals in residential treatment settings, a law enforcement-based K-CARE project, naloxone distribution via the KY Office of Drug Control Policy, and expansion of the K-CARE model into the judicial system via a partnership with the KY Administrative Office of the Courts who embedded CRCs in ten pre-trial offices to support a diversion program. K-CARE CRCs will serve as a vital referral source for the constellation of needs that are likely to present, including linking victims with available services for interpersonal violence such as domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers, and protective services. Likewise, K-CARE CRCs will help individuals in need to secure access to necessary health care services, transportation, employment assistance, job training, vocational rehabilitation programs, and independent/transitional housing options in their communities.

Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet

Kentucky

The proposed project, Kentucky Comprehensive Advocacy and Resource Efforts (K-CARE), will help to ensure that individuals negatively impacted by opioids are provided with support in the form of a community resource coordinator (CRC). K-CARE will place CRCs with Kentucky’s four (4) civil legal services providers, which provides access to CRCs for all 120 Kentucky counties via the civil legal service placements, as well as targeted support for other projects that align with the original intention of the funding. Those other projects included a fifth civil legal services provider who offers support to individuals in residential treatment settings, a law enforcement-based K-CARE project, naloxone distribution via the KY Office of Drug Control Policy, and expansion of the K-CARE model into the judicial system via a partnership with the KY Administrative Office of the Courts who embedded CRCs in ten pre-trial offices to support a diversion program. K-CARE CRCs will serve as a vital referral source for the constellation of needs that are likely to present, including linking victims with available services for interpersonal violence such as domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers, and protective services. Likewise, K-CARE CRCs will help individuals in need to secure access to necessary health care services, transportation, employment assistance, job training, vocational rehabilitation programs, and independent/transitional housing options in their communities.

LA

The Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) will develop and implement a comprehensive opioid prevention effort that promotes civil rights and racial equity in the identification, response, treatment, and support of those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The goal of Project Comprehensive Opioid Prevention Effort (COPE) is to deploy needed service activities and protocols to reduce overdose deaths, promote public safety, and support access to prevention, harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery services, both in the community and the justice system. The Project will function under the direction of a Project COPE Steering Committee, which is a permanent multidisciplinary coordinating body that focus on addressing the issues that arise due to the impacts of illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. It is composed of representatives from the LPSO, court system, Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office, Parish Government, public and private school systems, Nicholls State University, and prevention, intervention, and treatment agencies. Program activities include law enforcement deflection and diversion, real time data collection, education, and prevention, pre and post booking treatment alternatives to incarceration, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, and social workers and peer embedment at any intercept of the Sequential Intercept Model. A program-specific priority is in support of Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.” In partnership with the Kingdom Impact Global Worship Centre, underserved populations that have been adversely affected by the opioid epidemic will be identified and strategically facilitated under the program.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Louisiana

The Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) will develop and implement a comprehensive opioid prevention effort that promotes civil rights and racial equity in the identification, response, treatment, and support of those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The goal of Project Comprehensive Opioid Prevention Effort (COPE) is to deploy needed service activities and protocols to reduce overdose deaths, promote public safety, and support access to prevention, harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery services, both in the community and the justice system. The Project will function under the direction of a Project COPE Steering Committee, which is a permanent multidisciplinary coordinating body that focus on addressing the issues that arise due to the impacts of illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. It is composed of representatives from the LPSO, court system, Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office, Parish Government, public and private school systems, Nicholls State University, and prevention, intervention, and treatment agencies. Program activities include law enforcement deflection and diversion, real time data collection, education, and prevention, pre and post booking treatment alternatives to incarceration, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, and social workers and peer embedment at any intercept of the Sequential Intercept Model. A program-specific priority is in support of Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.” In partnership with the Kingdom Impact Global Worship Centre, underserved populations that have been adversely affected by the opioid epidemic will be identified and strategically facilitated under the program.

MA

The Lowell Police Department is proposing to enhance and expand the Community Opioid-Outreach Program team (Lowell Police, Fire, Health, Trinity EMS, Lowell House) by adding a youth services coordinator to focus on the needs of children affected by the opioid epidemic, two outreach specialists to expand service to the homeless community by serving as a liaison between agencies to improve communication and connect their various resources, and conduct pro-active outreach to any individuals with substance use disorder before an overdose. Grant funds will support a coordinator, crime analyst, full-time clinical recovery specialist and youth services coordinator, outreach recovery specialist and research team. University of Massachusetts Lowell will serve as the research team comprised of researchers from Center for Community Research & Engagement, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, and Community Health and Sustainability.

City of Lowell

Massachusetts

The Lowell Police Department is proposing to enhance and expand the Community Opioid-Outreach Program team (Lowell Police, Fire, Health, Trinity EMS, Lowell House) by adding a youth services coordinator to focus on the needs of children affected by the opioid epidemic, two outreach specialists to expand service to the homeless community by serving as a liaison between agencies to improve communication and connect their various resources, and conduct pro-active outreach to any individuals with substance use disorder before an overdose. Grant funds will support a coordinator, crime analyst, full-time clinical recovery specialist and youth services coordinator, outreach recovery specialist and research team. University of Massachusetts Lowell will serve as the research team comprised of researchers from Center for Community Research & Engagement, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, and Community Health and Sustainability.

MA

Newburyport Police Department (NPD) in Massachusetts, one of the founding departments of the Essex County Outreach Program, proposes to expand the outreach program to encompass all of Essex County. The Essex County Outreach Program is a series of stigma-free entry points to treatment on demand. The program supports nonarrest or early diversion program models that reach people before they enter the criminal justice system. The program supports multiple law enforcement entry points to treatment, including self-referrals to the stations. Cross-sector collaboration and partnerships are key to the program’s success which is supported by clinicians, social workers, recovery coaches, and trained volunteers.

City of Newburyport

Massachusetts

Newburyport Police Department (NPD) in Massachusetts, one of the founding departments of the Essex County Outreach Program, proposes to expand the outreach program to encompass all of Essex County. The Essex County Outreach Program is a series of stigma-free entry points to treatment on demand. The program supports nonarrest or early diversion program models that reach people before they enter the criminal justice system. The program supports multiple law enforcement entry points to treatment, including self-referrals to the stations. Cross-sector collaboration and partnerships are key to the program’s success which is supported by clinicians, social workers, recovery coaches, and trained volunteers.

MA

The City of Newburyport, Massachusetts, leads the Essex County Outreach (ECO) program. The primary focus of the project is law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion programming (98 percent of the budget), followed by real-time data collection (two percent of the budget). This project serves the area of Essex County, which has a population of 785,205. ECO is a police-directed post-overdose outreach model and serves to make treatment more accessible for those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and their families. The key components of this program are informed by a recent Sequential Intercept Mapping Model (SIM) process that ECO completed, as well as lessons learned from the first four ECO program years. The ECO COSSAP grant prioritizes the following strategies that have emerged as gaps in resources: (1) program coordination/administrative support; (2) funding for police overtime for post-overdose follow-up visits; (3) clinical/child advocacy services; (4) housing and transportation resources to support clients in early stages of recovery; (5) addiction and recovery training for police officers; and (6) expansion of access to harm reduction supplies/kits. This project includes partnerships between the 34 police departments in Essex County, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, and all local treatment providers and community service providers. ECO is administered by the Newburyport Police Department along with the Essex County Chief’s Association. The research partner for this project will maintain the Critical Incident Management System (CIMS) software which records real-time data on all overdoses that occur in Essex County. CIMS also manages and documents incident follow-up outreach visits to determine the success at connecting individuals with treatment services, shares information across communities using a county-wide incident notification system and provides real-time reporting tools.

City of Newburyport

Massachusetts

The City of Newburyport, Massachusetts, leads the Essex County Outreach (ECO) program. The primary focus of the project is law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion programming (98 percent of the budget), followed by real-time data collection (two percent of the budget). This project serves the area of Essex County, which has a population of 785,205. ECO is a police-directed post-overdose outreach model and serves to make treatment more accessible for those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and their families. The key components of this program are informed by a recent Sequential Intercept Mapping Model (SIM) process that ECO completed, as well as lessons learned from the first four ECO program years. The ECO COSSAP grant prioritizes the following strategies that have emerged as gaps in resources: (1) program coordination/administrative support; (2) funding for police overtime for post-overdose follow-up visits; (3) clinical/child advocacy services; (4) housing and transportation resources to support clients in early stages of recovery; (5) addiction and recovery training for police officers; and (6) expansion of access to harm reduction supplies/kits. This project includes partnerships between the 34 police departments in Essex County, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, and all local treatment providers and community service providers. ECO is administered by the Newburyport Police Department along with the Essex County Chief’s Association. The research partner for this project will maintain the Critical Incident Management System (CIMS) software which records real-time data on all overdoses that occur in Essex County. CIMS also manages and documents incident follow-up outreach visits to determine the success at connecting individuals with treatment services, shares information across communities using a county-wide incident notification system and provides real-time reporting tools.

MA

The City of Lowell, Massachusetts, Police Department (LPD) project will expand and enhance the City of Lowell's existing Community Opioid Outreach Program (CO-OP). The CO-OP was implemented in 2016 to try to connect persons in Lowell, who recently overdosed, to services. The partners include LPD, Lowell Fire Department, Lowell Health Department, Pridestar Trinity EMS, and Lowell House Addiction Treatment and Recovery, Inc. The purpose of the project is to meet the growing needs of those with substance use disorder (SUD) in the City of Lowell. Project activities will include adding a Recovery Housing Specialist and bilingual Outreach Recovery Specialist to the CO-OP team. These positions will be essential to addressing the needs of homeless individuals with SUD and better serving individuals with SUD who speak English as a second language. The LPD is also proposing to provide financial assistance for transitional and recovery housing with recovery support services to individuals that qualify. Additionally, the department will continue to support the Lowell Health Department's Youth Outreach Specialist. This individual will assist youth and their families impacted by substance use and work closely with the Recovery Housing Specialist to secure housing for homeless young adults (18-26) with SUD. The LPD is also proposing to partner with the University of Massachusetts Lowell to conduct an evaluation of the project to understand the effect the program has on the opioid epidemic in the City of Lowell and the lives of those struggling with SUD and housing. Expected outcomes include securing transitional or recovery housing for 36 homeless individuals with SUD, increasing the number of individuals that access recovery services (i.e. youth and individuals that speak a different language), and increasing the number of individuals with SUD that make forward progress on stages of change. The project will address the following allowable activities: expand law enforcement and first responder deflection program (80%) and provide transitional or recovery housing and peer recovery support services (6%). 14% of the budget will also be dedicated to program evaluation. A breakdown of the budget is below. Additionally, please note that the LPD was awarded the BJA FY 19 Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program in the amount of $900,000 (2019-AR-BX-K005). This grant will end in September 2023.

Lowell, City of

Massachusetts

The City of Lowell, Massachusetts, Police Department (LPD) project will expand and enhance the City of Lowell's existing Community Opioid Outreach Program (CO-OP). The CO-OP was implemented in 2016 to try to connect persons in Lowell, who recently overdosed, to services. The partners include LPD, Lowell Fire Department, Lowell Health Department, Pridestar Trinity EMS, and Lowell House Addiction Treatment and Recovery, Inc. The purpose of the project is to meet the growing needs of those with substance use disorder (SUD) in the City of Lowell. Project activities will include adding a Recovery Housing Specialist and bilingual Outreach Recovery Specialist to the CO-OP team. These positions will be essential to addressing the needs of homeless individuals with SUD and better serving individuals with SUD who speak English as a second language. The LPD is also proposing to provide financial assistance for transitional and recovery housing with recovery support services to individuals that qualify. Additionally, the department will continue to support the Lowell Health Department's Youth Outreach Specialist. This individual will assist youth and their families impacted by substance use and work closely with the Recovery Housing Specialist to secure housing for homeless young adults (18-26) with SUD. The LPD is also proposing to partner with the University of Massachusetts Lowell to conduct an evaluation of the project to understand the effect the program has on the opioid epidemic in the City of Lowell and the lives of those struggling with SUD and housing. Expected outcomes include securing transitional or recovery housing for 36 homeless individuals with SUD, increasing the number of individuals that access recovery services (i.e. youth and individuals that speak a different language), and increasing the number of individuals with SUD that make forward progress on stages of change. The project will address the following allowable activities: expand law enforcement and first responder deflection program (80%) and provide transitional or recovery housing and peer recovery support services (6%). 14% of the budget will also be dedicated to program evaluation. A breakdown of the budget is below. Additionally, please note that the LPD was awarded the BJA FY 19 Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program in the amount of $900,000 (2019-AR-BX-K005). This grant will end in September 2023.

MA

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County, the North Quabbin Region, and other partners, will expand services provided by the Community Opportunity, Network, Navigation, Exploration, and Connection Team (CONNECT) project. Serving 30 rural communities across nearly 1,000 square miles, CONNECT became the first team serving 86,773 residents to respond to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in July 2021 in the only federally designated rural county in Massachusetts. CONNECT was created to address consistently high levels of fatal overdoses in a region marked by persistent poverty, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove up opioid-related fatalities by 45.5% between 2020 and 2021. Despite the presence of CONNECT, gaps remain. Lack of law enforcement and first responder capacity, budget cuts, and staff turnover have emerged as issues. The distribution of naloxone to our law enforcement and first responders remains a priority as many municipalities cannot afford it due to high costs. Advancing racial equity in our work has also emerged as a priority, as data reveal people of color are disproportionately impacted by opioid overdoses in Massachusetts. Rural isolation and lack of access to services remain a concern, where limited transportation routes and Internet connectivity prevent individuals from accessing SUD treatment services and peer recovery coaching supports in community settings, preventing their entry into the mental health and criminal justice systems. To address these challenges, CONNECT will: 1) implement a set of new strategies at Intercept Zero that would include the creation of a CONNECT mobile outreach program to visit residents in their communities, including targeting priority populations (e.g., trade workers), create self and at-risk referral pathways to leverage CONNECT services to prevent opioid overdoses from occurring, provide grief support visits, and create an opioid fatality review team; 2) embed peer recovery coaches in community, court, and emergency room settings; 3) continue to provide naloxone to law enforcement and first responders; 4) support CONNECT Cultural Humility Initiative to ensure the diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice principles are part of our community outreach; and 5) expand real-time data collection with our Critical Management System for CONNECT's new services. Led by research scientists Pamela Kelley and Dr. Sean Varano, Kelley Research Associates will act as CONNECT's Research Partner to assess its effectiveness.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Massachusetts

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County, the North Quabbin Region, and other partners, will expand services provided by the Community Opportunity, Network, Navigation, Exploration, and Connection Team (CONNECT) project. Serving 30 rural communities across nearly 1,000 square miles, CONNECT became the first team serving 86,773 residents to respond to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in July 2021 in the only federally designated rural county in Massachusetts. CONNECT was created to address consistently high levels of fatal overdoses in a region marked by persistent poverty, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which drove up opioid-related fatalities by 45.5% between 2020 and 2021. Despite the presence of CONNECT, gaps remain. Lack of law enforcement and first responder capacity, budget cuts, and staff turnover have emerged as issues. The distribution of naloxone to our law enforcement and first responders remains a priority as many municipalities cannot afford it due to high costs. Advancing racial equity in our work has also emerged as a priority, as data reveal people of color are disproportionately impacted by opioid overdoses in Massachusetts. Rural isolation and lack of access to services remain a concern, where limited transportation routes and Internet connectivity prevent individuals from accessing SUD treatment services and peer recovery coaching supports in community settings, preventing their entry into the mental health and criminal justice systems. To address these challenges, CONNECT will: 1) implement a set of new strategies at Intercept Zero that would include the creation of a CONNECT mobile outreach program to visit residents in their communities, including targeting priority populations (e.g., trade workers), create self and at-risk referral pathways to leverage CONNECT services to prevent opioid overdoses from occurring, provide grief support visits, and create an opioid fatality review team; 2) embed peer recovery coaches in community, court, and emergency room settings; 3) continue to provide naloxone to law enforcement and first responders; 4) support CONNECT Cultural Humility Initiative to ensure the diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice principles are part of our community outreach; and 5) expand real-time data collection with our Critical Management System for CONNECT's new services. Led by research scientists Pamela Kelley and Dr. Sean Varano, Kelley Research Associates will act as CONNECT's Research Partner to assess its effectiveness.

MA

The Massachusetts Middle District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with AdCare Hospital and the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, received funding to support the Worcester County Drug Diversion and Drug Endangered Children Initiative. The Middle District Attorney’s Office is the lead prosecution agency for the 60 communities that make up Worcester County, Massachusetts. The county has 862,111 residents and covers the largest geographical area of any county in the Commonwealth. Over the last seven years, the county’s law enforcement, municipal leaders, medical providers, treatment agencies, and other vested parties have joined forces to assess risk and protective factors related to opioid misuse. These representatives make up the Central Massachusetts Opioid Task Force, which aims to reduce overdoses and overdose deaths among residents, to prevent first-use of opioids, and to change the trajectory of intergenerational trauma resulting from substance misuse. The project will use data-driven, evidence-based strategies to reduce the number of low-level offenders with a history of substance use disorder that become incarcerated in Central Massachusetts. The Task Force recognizes the need for greater awareness and response to the impact caregiver substance use has on children. Local data indicates the identification rate of these children is lower than expected in a region the size of Worcester County. Unidentified children inherently lack access to the trauma informed services needed to address their victimization and its long-term impacts. This project will utilize national expertise in assessing community needs and developing appropriate responses through proven practices. The project will achieve the following: (1) expand diversion opportunities for low-level offenders with history of substance misuse; (2) reduce the number of unintentional overdose deaths among low-level offenders and criminal justice system-involved individuals in Worcester County; (3) evaluate the impact of diversion strategies and substance-abuse treatment for low-level offenders with history of substance misuse; (4) operationalize a county-wide Drug Endangered Children Alliance; and (5) Reduce impact of trauma on children in Worcester County.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Middle District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with AdCare Hospital and the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, received funding to support the Worcester County Drug Diversion and Drug Endangered Children Initiative. The Middle District Attorney’s Office is the lead prosecution agency for the 60 communities that make up Worcester County, Massachusetts. The county has 862,111 residents and covers the largest geographical area of any county in the Commonwealth. Over the last seven years, the county’s law enforcement, municipal leaders, medical providers, treatment agencies, and other vested parties have joined forces to assess risk and protective factors related to opioid misuse. These representatives make up the Central Massachusetts Opioid Task Force, which aims to reduce overdoses and overdose deaths among residents, to prevent first-use of opioids, and to change the trajectory of intergenerational trauma resulting from substance misuse. The project will use data-driven, evidence-based strategies to reduce the number of low-level offenders with a history of substance use disorder that become incarcerated in Central Massachusetts. The Task Force recognizes the need for greater awareness and response to the impact caregiver substance use has on children. Local data indicates the identification rate of these children is lower than expected in a region the size of Worcester County. Unidentified children inherently lack access to the trauma informed services needed to address their victimization and its long-term impacts. This project will utilize national expertise in assessing community needs and developing appropriate responses through proven practices. The project will achieve the following: (1) expand diversion opportunities for low-level offenders with history of substance misuse; (2) reduce the number of unintentional overdose deaths among low-level offenders and criminal justice system-involved individuals in Worcester County; (3) evaluate the impact of diversion strategies and substance-abuse treatment for low-level offenders with history of substance misuse; (4) operationalize a county-wide Drug Endangered Children Alliance; and (5) Reduce impact of trauma on children in Worcester County.

MA

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office (PCDAO) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $1,185,241. The project will expand the county’s Drug Endangered Children Initiative (DECI) program to embed social services with law enforcement in order to rapidly respond to drug overdoses where children are impacted. Led by the DECI subcommittee within the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force and leveraging existing efforts by the PCDAO and the United Way of Greater Plymouth County’s Family Resource Center (UWGPC FRC), the project will continue to train police on identifying drug-endangered children in order to increase the number of referrals. The PCDAO will work with each police department’s outreach team to develop prompts for officers to use when visiting homes for an outreach visit of an overdose victim who lives with or has children. The project will also provide funding to local youth-serving agencies, faith-based communities, and medical professionals to support training and the implementation of trauma-sensitive practices to help identified drug-endangered children build resilience and increase the UWGPC FRC’s ability to offer direct services to children and families referred from the community. The project will develop the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Pilot Program, with the mission and purpose to offer local law enforcement Comfort Dogs to assist with their efforts of identifying, responding, supporting, and treating those impacted by anxiety, mental illness, illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s pilot program will deliver 20 Comfort Dogs for deployment within Plymouth County, MA. The Comfort Dog Team will be present in schools and the community to enhance resilience, community response, and support to those impacted by substance use. Additionally, community-based interactions with K-12 youth will provide comfort and emotional support for the well-being of Drug Endangered Children and students with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), affording an additional avenue for referrals to our DECI at the United Way. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office will partner with a PhD-level faculty member at Bridgewater State University to evaluate this program. The Research Consultant will develop and implement a study to determine if there is a correlation between the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Pilot Program and the community as whole with a special focus on the well-being of Drug Endangered Children, students with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), truancy and those in our community who are impacted by anxiety, mental illness, illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. The goal of the project is to reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities by mitigating the impact on children and families through a comprehensive and collaborative county-wide effort. The project serves Plymouth County, comprising 27 municipalities with a total population of 521,202. The project includes partnerships between PCDAO, UWGPC FRC, the sheriff’s office, and local police departments. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

Plymouth County (Inc)

Massachusetts

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office (PCDAO) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $1,185,241. The project will expand the county’s Drug Endangered Children Initiative (DECI) program to embed social services with law enforcement in order to rapidly respond to drug overdoses where children are impacted. Led by the DECI subcommittee within the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force and leveraging existing efforts by the PCDAO and the United Way of Greater Plymouth County’s Family Resource Center (UWGPC FRC), the project will continue to train police on identifying drug-endangered children in order to increase the number of referrals. The PCDAO will work with each police department’s outreach team to develop prompts for officers to use when visiting homes for an outreach visit of an overdose victim who lives with or has children. The project will also provide funding to local youth-serving agencies, faith-based communities, and medical professionals to support training and the implementation of trauma-sensitive practices to help identified drug-endangered children build resilience and increase the UWGPC FRC’s ability to offer direct services to children and families referred from the community. The project will develop the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Pilot Program, with the mission and purpose to offer local law enforcement Comfort Dogs to assist with their efforts of identifying, responding, supporting, and treating those impacted by anxiety, mental illness, illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s pilot program will deliver 20 Comfort Dogs for deployment within Plymouth County, MA. The Comfort Dog Team will be present in schools and the community to enhance resilience, community response, and support to those impacted by substance use. Additionally, community-based interactions with K-12 youth will provide comfort and emotional support for the well-being of Drug Endangered Children and students with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), affording an additional avenue for referrals to our DECI at the United Way. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office will partner with a PhD-level faculty member at Bridgewater State University to evaluate this program. The Research Consultant will develop and implement a study to determine if there is a correlation between the Plymouth County Comfort Dogs Pilot Program and the community as whole with a special focus on the well-being of Drug Endangered Children, students with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), truancy and those in our community who are impacted by anxiety, mental illness, illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs. The goal of the project is to reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities by mitigating the impact on children and families through a comprehensive and collaborative county-wide effort. The project serves Plymouth County, comprising 27 municipalities with a total population of 521,202. The project includes partnerships between PCDAO, UWGPC FRC, the sheriff’s office, and local police departments. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

MD

The Cecil County Department of Community Services (DCS) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $762,064. The project will enable the expansion of the Cecil County Prevention and Overdose Response and Trauma Support Services initiative (PORTSS), a first responder-led project. The PORTSS team, comprising a coordinator from the Department of Emergency Services, a peer recovery specialist from the Cecil County Health Department, and a case manager from DCS, will help bridge an identified communication gap between responding agencies and service providers and ensure outreach to victims and families. With the addition of the DCS case manager (a social worker), the team will assess needs, coordinate referrals, assist families, and follow up on family engagement. Services to families will include a warm handoff to substance use disorder treatment, trauma therapy for children and their caregivers, revitalization of Cecil’s Handle with Care program, referrals for behavioral/mental health services for children, assistance with accessing community resources (food, housing, utility assistance, etc.), educational assistance, and regular follow-up. The PORTSS team will utilize real-time data from Cecil County’s heroin coordinator, located in the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and 9-1-1 call logs, enabling it to receive real-time notification of overdose “hot spots.” The PORTSS team will also provide regular training to first responders on adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and ethics. The project serves Cecil County, a largely rural jurisdiction with a population of nearly 103,000. The project includes partnerships with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, public schools in the county, the Cecil County Department of Social Services, Voices of Hope, Inc. (a recovery partner), and Bodhi Counseling and Upper Bay Counseling and Support Services, behavioral health providers. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

Cecil County

Maryland

The Cecil County Department of Community Services (DCS) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $762,064. The project will enable the expansion of the Cecil County Prevention and Overdose Response and Trauma Support Services initiative (PORTSS), a first responder-led project. The PORTSS team, comprising a coordinator from the Department of Emergency Services, a peer recovery specialist from the Cecil County Health Department, and a case manager from DCS, will help bridge an identified communication gap between responding agencies and service providers and ensure outreach to victims and families. With the addition of the DCS case manager (a social worker), the team will assess needs, coordinate referrals, assist families, and follow up on family engagement. Services to families will include a warm handoff to substance use disorder treatment, trauma therapy for children and their caregivers, revitalization of Cecil’s Handle with Care program, referrals for behavioral/mental health services for children, assistance with accessing community resources (food, housing, utility assistance, etc.), educational assistance, and regular follow-up. The PORTSS team will utilize real-time data from Cecil County’s heroin coordinator, located in the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and 9-1-1 call logs, enabling it to receive real-time notification of overdose “hot spots.” The PORTSS team will also provide regular training to first responders on adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and ethics. The project serves Cecil County, a largely rural jurisdiction with a population of nearly 103,000. The project includes partnerships with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, public schools in the county, the Cecil County Department of Social Services, Voices of Hope, Inc. (a recovery partner), and Bodhi Counseling and Upper Bay Counseling and Support Services, behavioral health providers. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

MD

Cecil County, Maryland, will enhance the community's response to the opioid crisis by offering a public safety-led multidisciplinary team response to serve victims of overdose, their children and family members, and our professional partners. The initiative is entitled the Prevention and Overdose Response and Trauma Services Supports program (PORTSS). Cecil County has previously received COSSAP grant funds and this project will augment and supplement the activities of that grant, while assiduously maintaining separation of financial and programmatic measures. In January 2022, Cecil County officially launched the PORTSS team. The team offers services to overdose victims and family members as Cecil implements a two-generation strategy to reduce substance use disorder and consequent childhood trauma. Services include a warm handoff to treatment, trauma therapy for children and their caregivers, and assistance with accessing community resources. Additionally, the team is continuously collecting, reviewing and sharing data, providing direct therapeutic services to first responders, training and supporting public safety, school staff and other professionals, promoting community awareness, and sharing all available resources to meet the needs of this population. With additional funding, Cecil County intends to continue current efforts and provide new services, including transportation for clients in recovery houses, an annual Trunk-or-Treat/Drug Take-Back event, youth diversion and tobacco, drug, and alcohol education, youth social and emotional learning, a Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) program, continuing education for local mental health professionals, and a central data sharing system. The nature of the work supported by the PORTSS initiative requires ongoing, uninterrupted service to provide continuous trauma therapy, overdose response, prevention efforts, education, and data management. To avoid the inevitable delays that occur at the start of a new grant cycle, Cecil County is proactively applying for funding mid-cycle, attempting to insure an uninterrupted flow of services.

Cecil County, Maryland

Maryland

Cecil County, Maryland, will enhance the community's response to the opioid crisis by offering a public safety-led multidisciplinary team response to serve victims of overdose, their children and family members, and our professional partners. The initiative is entitled the Prevention and Overdose Response and Trauma Services Supports program (PORTSS). Cecil County has previously received COSSAP grant funds and this project will augment and supplement the activities of that grant, while assiduously maintaining separation of financial and programmatic measures. In January 2022, Cecil County officially launched the PORTSS team. The team offers services to overdose victims and family members as Cecil implements a two-generation strategy to reduce substance use disorder and consequent childhood trauma. Services include a warm handoff to treatment, trauma therapy for children and their caregivers, and assistance with accessing community resources. Additionally, the team is continuously collecting, reviewing and sharing data, providing direct therapeutic services to first responders, training and supporting public safety, school staff and other professionals, promoting community awareness, and sharing all available resources to meet the needs of this population. With additional funding, Cecil County intends to continue current efforts and provide new services, including transportation for clients in recovery houses, an annual Trunk-or-Treat/Drug Take-Back event, youth diversion and tobacco, drug, and alcohol education, youth social and emotional learning, a Local Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) program, continuing education for local mental health professionals, and a central data sharing system. The nature of the work supported by the PORTSS initiative requires ongoing, uninterrupted service to provide continuous trauma therapy, overdose response, prevention efforts, education, and data management. To avoid the inevitable delays that occur at the start of a new grant cycle, Cecil County is proactively applying for funding mid-cycle, attempting to insure an uninterrupted flow of services.

MI

Cass County, Inc. applied for Category 1c rural/tribal area grant funding in the amount of $600,000. The Cass County COSSAP Project will employ a collaborative and comprehensive “gap-filling” approach to develop, implement, and/or expand/enhance existing trauma-informed evidence-based programming in order to identify, respond to, treat, and support those affected by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Objectives include the expansion of access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system. The program will also create co-responder crisis intervention teams of trained law enforcement officers and behavioral health practitioners to connect individuals to trauma-informed and evidence-based co-occurring SUD treatment and recovery support services, as well as provide overdose education and prevention activities, and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse. The project includes partnerships between 43rd Circuit Court judges, Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network, Office of the Sheriff, Office of the Prosecutor, Community Corrections, defense attorney, program coordinator, and the program evaluator. Priority considerations addressed in this application include the challenges that rural communities face and Qualified Opportunity Zone.

Cass County, Inc.

Michigan

Cass County, Inc. applied for Category 1c rural/tribal area grant funding in the amount of $600,000. The Cass County COSSAP Project will employ a collaborative and comprehensive “gap-filling” approach to develop, implement, and/or expand/enhance existing trauma-informed evidence-based programming in order to identify, respond to, treat, and support those affected by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Objectives include the expansion of access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system. The program will also create co-responder crisis intervention teams of trained law enforcement officers and behavioral health practitioners to connect individuals to trauma-informed and evidence-based co-occurring SUD treatment and recovery support services, as well as provide overdose education and prevention activities, and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse. The project includes partnerships between 43rd Circuit Court judges, Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare Network, Office of the Sheriff, Office of the Prosecutor, Community Corrections, defense attorney, program coordinator, and the program evaluator. Priority considerations addressed in this application include the challenges that rural communities face and Qualified Opportunity Zone.

MI

The County of St. Joseph applied for Category 1c rural/tribal area grant funding in the amount of $600,000. The County of St. Joseph COSSAP Project will employ a collaborative and comprehensive “gap-filling” approach to develop, implement, and/or expand/enhance existing trauma-informed evidence-based programming in order to identify, respond to, treat, and support those affected by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Objectives include the expansion of access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system. The project will also create Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) to enhance co-responder crisis intervention teams to connect individuals to trauma-informed and evidence-based co-occurring SUD treatment and recovery support services; provide overdose education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse. This project serves St. Joseph County, Michigan, with a population of 60,964. The project includes partnerships between the 45th Circuit Court of Michigan, sheriff, Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, defense attorney, Office of the Prosecutor, Community Corrections, program evaluator, and program coordinator. Priority considerations addressed in this application include the specific challenges that rural communities face and a Qualified Opportunity Zone.

St. Joseph County

Michigan

The County of St. Joseph applied for Category 1c rural/tribal area grant funding in the amount of $600,000. The County of St. Joseph COSSAP Project will employ a collaborative and comprehensive “gap-filling” approach to develop, implement, and/or expand/enhance existing trauma-informed evidence-based programming in order to identify, respond to, treat, and support those affected by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Objectives include the expansion of access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system. The project will also create Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) to enhance co-responder crisis intervention teams to connect individuals to trauma-informed and evidence-based co-occurring SUD treatment and recovery support services; provide overdose education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse. This project serves St. Joseph County, Michigan, with a population of 60,964. The project includes partnerships between the 45th Circuit Court of Michigan, sheriff, Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, defense attorney, Office of the Prosecutor, Community Corrections, program evaluator, and program coordinator. Priority considerations addressed in this application include the specific challenges that rural communities face and a Qualified Opportunity Zone.

NC

Lenoir County's project is a regional project serving two rural counties in eastern North Carolina-Lenoir and Greene Counties-with a combined population of greater than 50,000. The grant will expand evidence-based substance use treatment, recovery housing, and case management services for justice-involved individuals at multiple intercepts. Specifically, under this project, Lenoir and Greene County will: Provide recovery housing and case management services to up to 157 individuals over the life of the grant; Provide transportation support to up to 300 individuals over the life of the grant; Provide monthly structured, supervised visitation for children impacted by parental substance use in the family court system; Support identifiable and accessible prescription drug take-back programs for unused, controlled substances in the home; Provide evidence-based substance use disorder treatment related to opioids, stimulants, and other drugs, as well as harm reduction activities and recovery support services; Partner with a researcher to continue to provide research-based strategies to identify treatment/resource needs, address system gaps, and evaluate program effectiveness through objective measures.

County of Lenoir

North Carolina

Lenoir County's project is a regional project serving two rural counties in eastern North Carolina-Lenoir and Greene Counties-with a combined population of greater than 50,000. The grant will expand evidence-based substance use treatment, recovery housing, and case management services for justice-involved individuals at multiple intercepts. Specifically, under this project, Lenoir and Greene County will: Provide recovery housing and case management services to up to 157 individuals over the life of the grant; Provide transportation support to up to 300 individuals over the life of the grant; Provide monthly structured, supervised visitation for children impacted by parental substance use in the family court system; Support identifiable and accessible prescription drug take-back programs for unused, controlled substances in the home; Provide evidence-based substance use disorder treatment related to opioids, stimulants, and other drugs, as well as harm reduction activities and recovery support services; Partner with a researcher to continue to provide research-based strategies to identify treatment/resource needs, address system gaps, and evaluate program effectiveness through objective measures.

NC

The Gaston County Government is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $899,999. The Gaston County Comprehensive Project to Improve Outcomes for Children Impacted by Substance Abuse will align county entities, substance misuse treatment providers, law enforcement agencies, courts, health care providers, and the faith-based community to provide an integrated system of referrals and services for children victimized by the opioid crisis. Under the supervision of Gaston County Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Children and Family Division, a therapeutic center will be established to provide therapeutic services for children in foster care who have been referred to the center by courts, direct therapeutic services for children lacking health insurance, counseling and therapeutic services for foster care children removed from their homes because of substance misuse, a county initiative to support rehabilitation rather than incarceration for opioid users, and outpatient substance misuse treatment. Gaston County HHS will also initiate a Therapeutic Visitation Center for the targeted population.

Gaston County

North Carolina

The Gaston County Government is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $899,999. The Gaston County Comprehensive Project to Improve Outcomes for Children Impacted by Substance Abuse will align county entities, substance misuse treatment providers, law enforcement agencies, courts, health care providers, and the faith-based community to provide an integrated system of referrals and services for children victimized by the opioid crisis. Under the supervision of Gaston County Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Children and Family Division, a therapeutic center will be established to provide therapeutic services for children in foster care who have been referred to the center by courts, direct therapeutic services for children lacking health insurance, counseling and therapeutic services for foster care children removed from their homes because of substance misuse, a county initiative to support rehabilitation rather than incarceration for opioid users, and outpatient substance misuse treatment. Gaston County HHS will also initiate a Therapeutic Visitation Center for the targeted population.

NC

The County of Lenoir applied for Category 1b grant funding for the amount of $288,713. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity of the district’s Family Accountability and Recovery Court (FARC) to serve families involved in the family court system due to substance dependence. Project objectives include providing more seamless and comprehensive treatment, as well as recovery services to parents with substance use disorders through increased staff capacity, enhanced training and professional development, and expanding treatment and complementary services. The project also aims at addressing systemic barriers faced by parents with substance use disorders through family transitional housing and expanded transportation assistance, as well as improving FARC performance through evaluation and performance management. This project serves North Carolina’s 8th Judicial District (Lenoir, Wayne, and Green counties). The total population of the district is 201,483. The project includes partnerships between Lenoir County, the 8th Judicial District FARC program, Hope Restorations Inc., Kinston Community Health Center, and the National Center for State Courts. Priority considerations addressed in this application include rural challenges, high and persistent poverty, and improved safety in Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Lenoir County

North Carolina

The County of Lenoir applied for Category 1b grant funding for the amount of $288,713. The purpose of the project is to improve capacity of the district’s Family Accountability and Recovery Court (FARC) to serve families involved in the family court system due to substance dependence. Project objectives include providing more seamless and comprehensive treatment, as well as recovery services to parents with substance use disorders through increased staff capacity, enhanced training and professional development, and expanding treatment and complementary services. The project also aims at addressing systemic barriers faced by parents with substance use disorders through family transitional housing and expanded transportation assistance, as well as improving FARC performance through evaluation and performance management. This project serves North Carolina’s 8th Judicial District (Lenoir, Wayne, and Green counties). The total population of the district is 201,483. The project includes partnerships between Lenoir County, the 8th Judicial District FARC program, Hope Restorations Inc., Kinston Community Health Center, and the National Center for State Courts. Priority considerations addressed in this application include rural challenges, high and persistent poverty, and improved safety in Qualified Opportunity Zones.

NC

The Onslow County, North Carolina, project will expand evidence-based substance use treatment in the Onslow County Detention Center (OCDC), Court programming to identify need for services for children and youth impacted by their parent/family substance use, recovery housing support and comprehensive, real-time, information collection, analysis and trends. Onslow County is in the southeastern coastal plain of North Carolina and has an estimated population of 209,491. There are also approximately 45,079 active-duty marines and sailors stationed at Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. Onslow County has experienced the ravages of the opioid epidemic at a higher level than many communities in the state, and has worked since 2016 to strategically develop services and resources to support their citizens. The overarching goal of this application is to provide linkages for those affected by an opioid use disorder or other substance disuse to treatment services and resources. This includes both those incarcerated, and the children and families affected by substance use. Project activities include establishing a therapeutic community within the OCDC for individuals with substance use disorders. Inmates will be provided evidence-based treatment such as individual and group counseling, family support when appropriate, strategies for relapse prevention to include harm reduction, community and social support systems, and crisis contingency planning. Case plans will be developed with inmate and community resource connections made upon release. Referrals will be made to Oxford House for safe, sober housing while partnering to increase recovery housing inventory within the County. In addition, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist will coordinate with the Courts, (including the new Veterans Treatment Court), the Department of Social Services (DSS), Child Protective Services (CPS) and the OCDC to provide immediate linkages to appropriate services for children, youth, and families in cases where substance misuse is identified. Comprehensive, real-time data will be collected and analyzed by the Project Manager and a multi-disciplinary workgroup of service provider agencies and community stakeholders to monitor progress to goals and guide the program. Onslow County currently has a FY 2021 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program providing medication assisted treatment (MAT) and case management in the Onslow County Detention Center.

Onslow, County of

North Carolina

The Onslow County, North Carolina, project will expand evidence-based substance use treatment in the Onslow County Detention Center (OCDC), Court programming to identify need for services for children and youth impacted by their parent/family substance use, recovery housing support and comprehensive, real-time, information collection, analysis and trends. Onslow County is in the southeastern coastal plain of North Carolina and has an estimated population of 209,491. There are also approximately 45,079 active-duty marines and sailors stationed at Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. Onslow County has experienced the ravages of the opioid epidemic at a higher level than many communities in the state, and has worked since 2016 to strategically develop services and resources to support their citizens. The overarching goal of this application is to provide linkages for those affected by an opioid use disorder or other substance disuse to treatment services and resources. This includes both those incarcerated, and the children and families affected by substance use. Project activities include establishing a therapeutic community within the OCDC for individuals with substance use disorders. Inmates will be provided evidence-based treatment such as individual and group counseling, family support when appropriate, strategies for relapse prevention to include harm reduction, community and social support systems, and crisis contingency planning. Case plans will be developed with inmate and community resource connections made upon release. Referrals will be made to Oxford House for safe, sober housing while partnering to increase recovery housing inventory within the County. In addition, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist will coordinate with the Courts, (including the new Veterans Treatment Court), the Department of Social Services (DSS), Child Protective Services (CPS) and the OCDC to provide immediate linkages to appropriate services for children, youth, and families in cases where substance misuse is identified. Comprehensive, real-time data will be collected and analyzed by the Project Manager and a multi-disciplinary workgroup of service provider agencies and community stakeholders to monitor progress to goals and guide the program. Onslow County currently has a FY 2021 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program providing medication assisted treatment (MAT) and case management in the Onslow County Detention Center.

NH

The New Hampshire Department of Justice (DOJ) is applying for Category 2 funding in the amount of $4,710,993. The project will enable the expansion of the Prevention, Enforcement, & Treatment (PET) Program, which is designed to help lower recidivism rates of overdose victims and provide support to families of those struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) by tasking a police officer to respond to overdose calls in a jurisdiction and to connect individuals and their family members to lifesaving resources. The project will expand PET from Laconia to six other counties across the state in partnership with Amoskeag Health, a nonprofit health care provider who, along with the Manchester Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team Technical Assistance Center (ACERT TAC) will enable a multigenerational approach to SUD. The ACERT TAC will provide training and resources for the communities to ensure their networks of programs and services are trauma-informed. The project will integrate PET and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) into the first responders’ curriculum when responding to calls related to drug use. PET will offer a core of services to the families of individuals with SUD while identifying and utilizing resources from Manchester ACERT TAC to address the ACEs in children. The project serves the State of New Hampshire, which has an estimated population of 1,377,529. It will focus on the jurisdictions of Laconia, Belmont, Berlin, Claremont, Londonderry, Manchester, and Merrimack. The project will include partnerships between the New Hampshire DOJ and the Belmont Police Department, the Berlin Police Department, the Claremont Police Department, the Laconia Police Department, the Londonderry Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Merrimack Police Department, and Amoskeag Health. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

New Hampshire Department of Justice

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Department of Justice (DOJ) is applying for Category 2 funding in the amount of $4,710,993. The project will enable the expansion of the Prevention, Enforcement, & Treatment (PET) Program, which is designed to help lower recidivism rates of overdose victims and provide support to families of those struggling with substance use disorders (SUDs) by tasking a police officer to respond to overdose calls in a jurisdiction and to connect individuals and their family members to lifesaving resources. The project will expand PET from Laconia to six other counties across the state in partnership with Amoskeag Health, a nonprofit health care provider who, along with the Manchester Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team Technical Assistance Center (ACERT TAC) will enable a multigenerational approach to SUD. The ACERT TAC will provide training and resources for the communities to ensure their networks of programs and services are trauma-informed. The project will integrate PET and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) into the first responders’ curriculum when responding to calls related to drug use. PET will offer a core of services to the families of individuals with SUD while identifying and utilizing resources from Manchester ACERT TAC to address the ACEs in children. The project serves the State of New Hampshire, which has an estimated population of 1,377,529. It will focus on the jurisdictions of Laconia, Belmont, Berlin, Claremont, Londonderry, Manchester, and Merrimack. The project will include partnerships between the New Hampshire DOJ and the Belmont Police Department, the Berlin Police Department, the Claremont Police Department, the Laconia Police Department, the Londonderry Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Merrimack Police Department, and Amoskeag Health. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

NJ

Atlantic City is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $600,000. The Atlantic City COSSAP program will focus on promoting public safety and supporting access to recovery services, strengthening data collection and sharing, aligning and maximizing resources, and preventing substance use. It will implement a comprehensive plan to reduce the risk of overdose death and enhance treatment and recovery engagement through recommendations made by the city’s overdose fatality review team, bringing together stakeholders with different perspectives and different data sets to improve public health and clinical practices. Strategies include enhanced outreach to overdose survivors and their families and enhanced targeting of high-frequency cases. Goals of the project include reducing the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, reducing the number of overdose fatalities, and mitigating the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives, in part by enhancing the proactive use of prescription drug monitoring programs to support clinical decision making and preventing the misuse and diversion of controlled substances. The project serves Atlantic City, which has a population of 37,999. The project includes partnerships with the city’s Director of Public Health, the Jewish Family Services Department, Southern Jersey Family Medical Center, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Behavioral Health, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Atlantic City Municipal Court, and emergency medical services. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

Atlantic City (Inc)

New Jersey

Atlantic City is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $600,000. The Atlantic City COSSAP program will focus on promoting public safety and supporting access to recovery services, strengthening data collection and sharing, aligning and maximizing resources, and preventing substance use. It will implement a comprehensive plan to reduce the risk of overdose death and enhance treatment and recovery engagement through recommendations made by the city’s overdose fatality review team, bringing together stakeholders with different perspectives and different data sets to improve public health and clinical practices. Strategies include enhanced outreach to overdose survivors and their families and enhanced targeting of high-frequency cases. Goals of the project include reducing the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, reducing the number of overdose fatalities, and mitigating the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives, in part by enhancing the proactive use of prescription drug monitoring programs to support clinical decision making and preventing the misuse and diversion of controlled substances. The project serves Atlantic City, which has a population of 37,999. The project includes partnerships with the city’s Director of Public Health, the Jewish Family Services Department, Southern Jersey Family Medical Center, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Behavioral Health, the Atlantic City Police Department, the Atlantic City Municipal Court, and emergency medical services. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

NM

Bernalillo County in New Mexico will use grant funds to expand access to treatment and recovery support services across behavioral health, primary care, criminal justice, and emergency management services. Grant funds will be used to hire a full-time coordinator and two case managers. The county and partners will engage in comprehensive planning; create a mobile harm reduction center staffed by a nurse and the two case managers; increase medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for off reservation urban Indians; provide transitional housing for underserved youth and their families; and provide MAT to incarcerated youth. The University of New Mexico Institute for Social Research will serve as the research partner for the proposed project.

Bernalillo County

New Mexico

Bernalillo County in New Mexico will use grant funds to expand access to treatment and recovery support services across behavioral health, primary care, criminal justice, and emergency management services. Grant funds will be used to hire a full-time coordinator and two case managers. The county and partners will engage in comprehensive planning; create a mobile harm reduction center staffed by a nurse and the two case managers; increase medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for off reservation urban Indians; provide transitional housing for underserved youth and their families; and provide MAT to incarcerated youth. The University of New Mexico Institute for Social Research will serve as the research partner for the proposed project.

NY

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $899,910. The Chautauqua Comprehensive Addiction Response and Evaluation System (Chautauqua CARES) is a county-wide, multi-sector network of law enforcement, behavioral health, and other community agencies collaborating to increase the accessibility, timeliness, and effectiveness of support for individuals with substance use disorders and their families. Chautauqua CARES will work to more fully incorporate law enforcement and behavioral health care roles in helping individuals and families struggling with addiction. The project will include development of a law enforcement diversion program for nonviolent drug offenders and support an expanded treatment program within the county jail. Chautauqua CARES will serve to coordinate and oversee standardized training, ordering of supplies, and evaluation of naloxone administration by first responders throughout the county and will further expand and raise the profile of drug take-back activities in the county. Chautauqua CARES will support law enforcement’s involvement in prevention efforts through coordinated school-based and other outreach activities. Goals for the program include increasing the number of county residents receiving services for substance use disorder and reducing the numbers of fatal overdoses in the county. The program will be overseen by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department. The project serves Chautauqua County, which has a population of 126,903. The project includes partnerships with the Unified Court System Eighth Judicial District, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office, the Chautauqua County Public Defender’s Office, the Chautauqua County Office of Probation, the Jamestown Police Department, the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, the Chautauqua Substance Abuse Response Partnership, the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Prevention Works, and HOPE Chautauqua. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

Chautauqua County

New York

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $899,910. The Chautauqua Comprehensive Addiction Response and Evaluation System (Chautauqua CARES) is a county-wide, multi-sector network of law enforcement, behavioral health, and other community agencies collaborating to increase the accessibility, timeliness, and effectiveness of support for individuals with substance use disorders and their families. Chautauqua CARES will work to more fully incorporate law enforcement and behavioral health care roles in helping individuals and families struggling with addiction. The project will include development of a law enforcement diversion program for nonviolent drug offenders and support an expanded treatment program within the county jail. Chautauqua CARES will serve to coordinate and oversee standardized training, ordering of supplies, and evaluation of naloxone administration by first responders throughout the county and will further expand and raise the profile of drug take-back activities in the county. Chautauqua CARES will support law enforcement’s involvement in prevention efforts through coordinated school-based and other outreach activities. Goals for the program include increasing the number of county residents receiving services for substance use disorder and reducing the numbers of fatal overdoses in the county. The program will be overseen by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department. The project serves Chautauqua County, which has a population of 126,903. The project includes partnerships with the Unified Court System Eighth Judicial District, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office, the Chautauqua County Public Defender’s Office, the Chautauqua County Office of Probation, the Jamestown Police Department, the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, the Chautauqua Substance Abuse Response Partnership, the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Prevention Works, and HOPE Chautauqua. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

NY

The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $1,194,050. The project will enable OCME’s Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group (DIIG) to expand three initiatives: the suspected potential overdose tracking (SPOT) system, which is designed to inform key stakeholders of rapidly evolving overdose trends across New York City; the recently restructured New York City Overdose Fatality Review (OFR), by implementing a data management and evaluation system that incorporates an investigation of the social determinants of health associated with overdose deaths to ensure that OFR recommendations and outcomes are tracked systematically; and an OCME-based service referral program for next of kin of overdose decedents, by conducting a needs assessment and pilot program to better understand and meet the complex needs of next-of-kin. The goals of the project are to share overdose and drug use data and information quickly and effectively, examine the social determinants of health and structural inequalities that lead to high rates of overdose in high poverty areas of the city, and expand grief and trauma support for families of overdose victims, as well as linkages to care for high-risk individuals and social networks. The project serves New York City (population 8.3 million), with a focus on Bronx County, which has a population of 1.4 million. The project includes partnerships with the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Drug User Health Post Overdose Response Team (PORT), New York City’s Correctional Health Services, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the New York State Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the district attorney offices of Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. The project will engage Health Research Inc. (HRI) as an evaluator. Priority considerations addressed in this application include an opportunity to benefit individuals residing in high-poverty areas and areas impacted by high rates of overdose deaths.

City of New York

New York

The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $1,194,050. The project will enable OCME’s Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group (DIIG) to expand three initiatives: the suspected potential overdose tracking (SPOT) system, which is designed to inform key stakeholders of rapidly evolving overdose trends across New York City; the recently restructured New York City Overdose Fatality Review (OFR), by implementing a data management and evaluation system that incorporates an investigation of the social determinants of health associated with overdose deaths to ensure that OFR recommendations and outcomes are tracked systematically; and an OCME-based service referral program for next of kin of overdose decedents, by conducting a needs assessment and pilot program to better understand and meet the complex needs of next-of-kin. The goals of the project are to share overdose and drug use data and information quickly and effectively, examine the social determinants of health and structural inequalities that lead to high rates of overdose in high poverty areas of the city, and expand grief and trauma support for families of overdose victims, as well as linkages to care for high-risk individuals and social networks. The project serves New York City (population 8.3 million), with a focus on Bronx County, which has a population of 1.4 million. The project includes partnerships with the New York State Department of Health’s Office of Drug User Health Post Overdose Response Team (PORT), New York City’s Correctional Health Services, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the New York State Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the district attorney offices of Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. The project will engage Health Research Inc. (HRI) as an evaluator. Priority considerations addressed in this application include an opportunity to benefit individuals residing in high-poverty areas and areas impacted by high rates of overdose deaths.

NY

The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office will; (1) expand a law enforcement diversion co-response team previously funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance modeled after LEAD, PAARI, QRT, and traditional care management to provide peer services within the rural areas of the county; (2) provided peer care management services in the Ulster County Jail to provide MAT programing support, as well as pre/post re-entry services to assist the coordination of re-entry for individuals with SUD, linking individuals with community-based treatment and recovery supports which increase access to behavioral health care, and following up with individuals for up to post release; and (3) provide naloxone vending machines in public spaces at the jail and in the community as a harm reduction measure for close networks of individuals experiencing opioid use disorder to gain easy and equitable access. The project includes collaboration between Ulster County Department of Mental Health, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, and Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement's High Risk Mitigation Team. This expansion project aims to increase collaboration between law enforcement and the community with the following goals: (1) reduce opioid fatalities in the rural region of the county by 40 percent in three years; (2) decrease opioid fatalities among incarcerated individuals upon re-entry by 40 percent over the course of three years; (3) increase naloxone distribution to the families and networks of individuals experiencing opioid use disorder by 100 percent within three years. The goal of all proposed programs is to enhance relationships between law enforcement and black, indigenous, and people of color communities struggling with substance use disorder by ensuring that all outreach and practices are trauma informed and sensitive to the historical and systemic racism.

Ulster County

New York

The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office will; (1) expand a law enforcement diversion co-response team previously funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance modeled after LEAD, PAARI, QRT, and traditional care management to provide peer services within the rural areas of the county; (2) provided peer care management services in the Ulster County Jail to provide MAT programing support, as well as pre/post re-entry services to assist the coordination of re-entry for individuals with SUD, linking individuals with community-based treatment and recovery supports which increase access to behavioral health care, and following up with individuals for up to post release; and (3) provide naloxone vending machines in public spaces at the jail and in the community as a harm reduction measure for close networks of individuals experiencing opioid use disorder to gain easy and equitable access. The project includes collaboration between Ulster County Department of Mental Health, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, and Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement's High Risk Mitigation Team. This expansion project aims to increase collaboration between law enforcement and the community with the following goals: (1) reduce opioid fatalities in the rural region of the county by 40 percent in three years; (2) decrease opioid fatalities among incarcerated individuals upon re-entry by 40 percent over the course of three years; (3) increase naloxone distribution to the families and networks of individuals experiencing opioid use disorder by 100 percent within three years. The goal of all proposed programs is to enhance relationships between law enforcement and black, indigenous, and people of color communities struggling with substance use disorder by ensuring that all outreach and practices are trauma informed and sensitive to the historical and systemic racism.

OH

The City of Columbus Department of Public Safety project implements The Rapid Response Emergency Addiction Crisis Team (RREACT) program. The purpose is to expand comprehensive, multi-disciplinary first responder led outreach with the goal of stabilizing the household and reducing barriers and increasing access to drug and/or behavioral treatment for the individuals with substance use disorder. RREACT program activities include connecting overdose survivors with evidence-based harm reduction services and licensed treatment programs; addressing healthcare disparities and increase access to overdose prevention, treatment, and recovery resources for minority groups; connecting families with trauma specialists to rapidly respond to the needs of children impacted by drug overdose; implementing drug take-back campaigns in partnership with the DEA and local community organizations; expanding access to peer recovery and case management services for individuals with substance use disorder and justice involvement and their families; developing and implementing harm reduction and drug prevention campaigns for K-12 students within the vulnerable communities. Expected outcomes include: the development of culturally appropriate protocol for SUD/OUD EMS outreach protocols, harm reduction and case management protocols and drug prevention campaigns for at-risk youth; increased provision of evidence-based treatment for individuals with substance use disorder; decreased rate of opioid misuse and drug overdose death rate, including prescription and illicit opioid overdose death rates; increased access to critical child and kinship supports for kids and other caregivers in the home impacted by opioid use. RREACT program will serve individuals who experienced a non-fatal overdose and their households residing in Franklin County in the city of Columbus. RREACT actively partners with local treatment providers, public health departments, justice agencies and Franklin County's Family and Children First Council to achieve desired project outcomes. Mighty Crow, Inc. serves as the evaluator for the project.

City of Columbus

Ohio

The City of Columbus Department of Public Safety project implements The Rapid Response Emergency Addiction Crisis Team (RREACT) program. The purpose is to expand comprehensive, multi-disciplinary first responder led outreach with the goal of stabilizing the household and reducing barriers and increasing access to drug and/or behavioral treatment for the individuals with substance use disorder. RREACT program activities include connecting overdose survivors with evidence-based harm reduction services and licensed treatment programs; addressing healthcare disparities and increase access to overdose prevention, treatment, and recovery resources for minority groups; connecting families with trauma specialists to rapidly respond to the needs of children impacted by drug overdose; implementing drug take-back campaigns in partnership with the DEA and local community organizations; expanding access to peer recovery and case management services for individuals with substance use disorder and justice involvement and their families; developing and implementing harm reduction and drug prevention campaigns for K-12 students within the vulnerable communities. Expected outcomes include: the development of culturally appropriate protocol for SUD/OUD EMS outreach protocols, harm reduction and case management protocols and drug prevention campaigns for at-risk youth; increased provision of evidence-based treatment for individuals with substance use disorder; decreased rate of opioid misuse and drug overdose death rate, including prescription and illicit opioid overdose death rates; increased access to critical child and kinship supports for kids and other caregivers in the home impacted by opioid use. RREACT program will serve individuals who experienced a non-fatal overdose and their households residing in Franklin County in the city of Columbus. RREACT actively partners with local treatment providers, public health departments, justice agencies and Franklin County's Family and Children First Council to achieve desired project outcomes. Mighty Crow, Inc. serves as the evaluator for the project.

OH

The City of Columbus Department of Public Safety applied for grant funding in the amount of $1200,000 under Category 1A. This project serves the 1,316,756 residents of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio. The Rapid Response Emergency Addiction Crisis Team (RREACT) EMS Outreach Unit is a unit within the Division of Fire’s Training and Emergency Medical Services Bureau and is supported by the Division of Police’s Crisis Response Team. RREACT EMS outreach members include firefighters/paramedics, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified peace officers, a substance use case manager, a registered SUD nurse, a family case manager, and trauma specialist. This multidisciplinary outreach team goes directly into communities to connect with opioid users who survive overdose, but then refuse EMS transport to the emergency room. The goal of the outreach unit is to proactively create connections and build relationships with opioid users. RREACT follows up with addicted individuals in the community within 48 hours of nonfatal overdose; checks in on their immediate health and wellness; provides resource information, and creates opportunities for users to link with harm-reduction supplies, treatment programs, and social service supports. RREACT actively partners with local treatment providers, public health departments, justice agencies, and Franklin County’s Family and Children First Council to achieve desired project outcomes. Gretchen Hammond with Mighty Crow, Inc. serves as the evaluator for the proposed project. The applicant is eligible for COSSAP priority consideration based on overdose rates in Franklin County and the City of Columbus and the project’s impact on increased public safety in Qualified Opportunity Zones.

City of Columbus, Department of Public Safety

Ohio

The City of Columbus Department of Public Safety applied for grant funding in the amount of $1200,000 under Category 1A. This project serves the 1,316,756 residents of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio. The Rapid Response Emergency Addiction Crisis Team (RREACT) EMS Outreach Unit is a unit within the Division of Fire’s Training and Emergency Medical Services Bureau and is supported by the Division of Police’s Crisis Response Team. RREACT EMS outreach members include firefighters/paramedics, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) certified peace officers, a substance use case manager, a registered SUD nurse, a family case manager, and trauma specialist. This multidisciplinary outreach team goes directly into communities to connect with opioid users who survive overdose, but then refuse EMS transport to the emergency room. The goal of the outreach unit is to proactively create connections and build relationships with opioid users. RREACT follows up with addicted individuals in the community within 48 hours of nonfatal overdose; checks in on their immediate health and wellness; provides resource information, and creates opportunities for users to link with harm-reduction supplies, treatment programs, and social service supports. RREACT actively partners with local treatment providers, public health departments, justice agencies, and Franklin County’s Family and Children First Council to achieve desired project outcomes. Gretchen Hammond with Mighty Crow, Inc. serves as the evaluator for the proposed project. The applicant is eligible for COSSAP priority consideration based on overdose rates in Franklin County and the City of Columbus and the project’s impact on increased public safety in Qualified Opportunity Zones.

OH

Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH)'s project will improve its response to overdose deaths and have more real time data as it relates to next of kin interviews and identify and support innovative community overdose prevention strategies as identified by the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team. HCPH will expand the OFR and next-of-kin interviewing to increase access to qualitative data and create space for implementation of OFR recommendations. The primary activities that will be implemented include 1) Interview friends and family of deceased individuals; 2) Interview friends and family of individuals who currently have an SUD and may have suffered a nonfatal overdose; 3) Partner with Hamilton County Heroin Task Force to serve as liaison between HCPH, QRT, and local law enforcement; 4) Partner with an academic evaluator (Ohio University) to evaluate the project; 5) Develop a dashboard that showcases OFR activities and recommendations; 6) Develop a tool to determine which recommendations are suggested for funding; 7) Outreach to hospitals and funeral homes; 8) Lead OFR meetings. This project will serve Hamilton County residents. Expected project outcomes include increasing the number of next of kin interviews by 50%, obtaining a baseline number of interviews of loved ones who know someone in active addiction and implementing and providing funding for two OFR recommendations per project year.

County of Hamilton

Ohio

Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH)'s project will improve its response to overdose deaths and have more real time data as it relates to next of kin interviews and identify and support innovative community overdose prevention strategies as identified by the Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team. HCPH will expand the OFR and next-of-kin interviewing to increase access to qualitative data and create space for implementation of OFR recommendations. The primary activities that will be implemented include 1) Interview friends and family of deceased individuals; 2) Interview friends and family of individuals who currently have an SUD and may have suffered a nonfatal overdose; 3) Partner with Hamilton County Heroin Task Force to serve as liaison between HCPH, QRT, and local law enforcement; 4) Partner with an academic evaluator (Ohio University) to evaluate the project; 5) Develop a dashboard that showcases OFR activities and recommendations; 6) Develop a tool to determine which recommendations are suggested for funding; 7) Outreach to hospitals and funeral homes; 8) Lead OFR meetings. This project will serve Hamilton County residents. Expected project outcomes include increasing the number of next of kin interviews by 50%, obtaining a baseline number of interviews of loved ones who know someone in active addiction and implementing and providing funding for two OFR recommendations per project year.

OH

Hocking County is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $539,464. The Hocking County Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Project will expand the county’s deflection programming from a Quick Response Team (QRT) called QRT Hocking Overdose Partnership Endeavor (HOPE) into one that partners with outside agencies by funding positions that link students and families to treatment and services for substance use disorders. The project will subcontract with a mental health practitioner within the Logan-Hocking School District (LHSD) and a deflection specialist within the Hocking County Health Department who will work directly with overdose victims and their families or those identified as being at a higher risk for having an overdose, as well as monitor a new crisis hotline within the health department and facilitate outreach and education into the community. LHSD will house the mental health practitioner within the high school and middle school in order to meet with students who have encountered an overdose or drug use, either among themselves or their families. The practitioner will be responsible for participating in the Handle with Care Program, an evidenced-based program designed to assist children in their school setting if a law enforcement encounter has happened inside their home. A multifaceted public awareness and education campaign will be created to increase the number of families who call the hotline. The goal of the project is to expand collaboration and partnerships among providers and agencies in Hocking County and to expand the existing framework of services to include stationary positions within fixed, strategic locations where students and families affected by the drug crisis frequent. The project serves Hocking County, a rural area with a population 28,264. The project includes partnerships with the LHSD and the Hocking County Health Department. The project will engage Wes Gilkey as a research partner. Priority considerations addressed in this application include the promotion of civil rights, support to crime victims, and building of trust between law enforcement and the community.

Hocking County

Ohio

Hocking County is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $539,464. The Hocking County Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Project will expand the county’s deflection programming from a Quick Response Team (QRT) called QRT Hocking Overdose Partnership Endeavor (HOPE) into one that partners with outside agencies by funding positions that link students and families to treatment and services for substance use disorders. The project will subcontract with a mental health practitioner within the Logan-Hocking School District (LHSD) and a deflection specialist within the Hocking County Health Department who will work directly with overdose victims and their families or those identified as being at a higher risk for having an overdose, as well as monitor a new crisis hotline within the health department and facilitate outreach and education into the community. LHSD will house the mental health practitioner within the high school and middle school in order to meet with students who have encountered an overdose or drug use, either among themselves or their families. The practitioner will be responsible for participating in the Handle with Care Program, an evidenced-based program designed to assist children in their school setting if a law enforcement encounter has happened inside their home. A multifaceted public awareness and education campaign will be created to increase the number of families who call the hotline. The goal of the project is to expand collaboration and partnerships among providers and agencies in Hocking County and to expand the existing framework of services to include stationary positions within fixed, strategic locations where students and families affected by the drug crisis frequent. The project serves Hocking County, a rural area with a population 28,264. The project includes partnerships with the LHSD and the Hocking County Health Department. The project will engage Wes Gilkey as a research partner. Priority considerations addressed in this application include the promotion of civil rights, support to crime victims, and building of trust between law enforcement and the community.

OK

The Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, headquartered in White Eagle, Oklahoma, with tribal jurisdiction extending to parts of Kay and Noble Counties, has a membership of 3,522. The tribe operates a small, ambulatory health clinic, White Eagle Health Center with a user population approaching 5,000 consisting of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and elders. The White Eagle Health Center service area encompasses four additional counties which are resident to four other rural tribes each with limited access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. The purpose of the project is to provide evidence-based treatment (30% of budget), recovery support services (40% of budget), tribal and county court-based intervention programming (20% of budget), naloxone distribution for law enforcement and first responders (5% of budget), and identifiable and accessible take back programming for unused controlled substances (5% of budget). The goals of the program are to: 1) Increase the accessibility of EBPs for American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) clients diagnosed with a substance use disorder 2) Reduce recovery support barriers for clients diagnosed with a substance use disorder; 3) Equip tribal law enforcement, other first responders and community members with the necessary education and equipment for administering Naloxone for the purpose of reversing opioid overdose; and 4) Establish reoccurring opportunities to facilitate the proper disposal of controlled substances by AI/AN community members. The project includes partnerships between the White Eagle Health Center, White Eagle Health Center-Behavioral Health Department, Ponca Tribal Court, Ponca Tribal Transit, Ponca Tribe Domestic Violence Services, and Ponca Indian Child Welfare. Data collection protocols will be developed to effectively measure the success of the program's objectives. This information will assist the COSSUP Project in reporting required performance measures to the Bureau of Justice Assistance. An annual report will be created to disseminate to stakeholders, community members, and other interested parties to increase investment in this program and provide a model for treating those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.

Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma

Oklahoma

The Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, headquartered in White Eagle, Oklahoma, with tribal jurisdiction extending to parts of Kay and Noble Counties, has a membership of 3,522. The tribe operates a small, ambulatory health clinic, White Eagle Health Center with a user population approaching 5,000 consisting of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and elders. The White Eagle Health Center service area encompasses four additional counties which are resident to four other rural tribes each with limited access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. The purpose of the project is to provide evidence-based treatment (30% of budget), recovery support services (40% of budget), tribal and county court-based intervention programming (20% of budget), naloxone distribution for law enforcement and first responders (5% of budget), and identifiable and accessible take back programming for unused controlled substances (5% of budget). The goals of the program are to: 1) Increase the accessibility of EBPs for American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) clients diagnosed with a substance use disorder 2) Reduce recovery support barriers for clients diagnosed with a substance use disorder; 3) Equip tribal law enforcement, other first responders and community members with the necessary education and equipment for administering Naloxone for the purpose of reversing opioid overdose; and 4) Establish reoccurring opportunities to facilitate the proper disposal of controlled substances by AI/AN community members. The project includes partnerships between the White Eagle Health Center, White Eagle Health Center-Behavioral Health Department, Ponca Tribal Court, Ponca Tribal Transit, Ponca Tribe Domestic Violence Services, and Ponca Indian Child Welfare. Data collection protocols will be developed to effectively measure the success of the program's objectives. This information will assist the COSSUP Project in reporting required performance measures to the Bureau of Justice Assistance. An annual report will be created to disseminate to stakeholders, community members, and other interested parties to increase investment in this program and provide a model for treating those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.

PA

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, through its Division of Human Services (including the Bucks County Behavioral Health/Developmental Program and the Children and Youth Social Services Agency, along with the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission), is partnering with the courts, law enforcement, and the IJIS Institute, on this project. Bucks County will develop Project Connect, an intensive, home-based program designed for parents experiencing challenges related to substance use disorder (SUD), mental health problems, and parenting. It is strength-based and trauma-informed and its implementation approach is developed using standardized implementation strategies. This service will decrease recidivism, prevent relapse, and maintain families and/or reunite families in a safe and permanent manner. The project centers on the impact of SUD on child welfare, the child welfare court system, the law enforcement community, and the foster care system, which is providing services to parents with SUD, including parents leaving incarceration or preventing incarceration, and/or parents after receiving non-community-based, residential drug and alcohol treatment, with children in foster care or relative care. This proposal will enable Bucks County to contract with by Children’s Friend, Inc., the Rhode Island agency that created Project Connect, to provide training to the Bucks County staff and a provider. As part of the training package, implementation assistance is included in the form of technical support. The formal support varies depending on the needs of the provider and the community. The goals of this project include: (1) decreased substance use; (2) reduced probability of relapse/reoccurrence; (3) lower rates of re-incarceration; and (4) improved family functioning and safety.

Bucks County

Pennsylvania

Bucks County, Pennsylvania, through its Division of Human Services (including the Bucks County Behavioral Health/Developmental Program and the Children and Youth Social Services Agency, along with the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission), is partnering with the courts, law enforcement, and the IJIS Institute, on this project. Bucks County will develop Project Connect, an intensive, home-based program designed for parents experiencing challenges related to substance use disorder (SUD), mental health problems, and parenting. It is strength-based and trauma-informed and its implementation approach is developed using standardized implementation strategies. This service will decrease recidivism, prevent relapse, and maintain families and/or reunite families in a safe and permanent manner. The project centers on the impact of SUD on child welfare, the child welfare court system, the law enforcement community, and the foster care system, which is providing services to parents with SUD, including parents leaving incarceration or preventing incarceration, and/or parents after receiving non-community-based, residential drug and alcohol treatment, with children in foster care or relative care. This proposal will enable Bucks County to contract with by Children’s Friend, Inc., the Rhode Island agency that created Project Connect, to provide training to the Bucks County staff and a provider. As part of the training package, implementation assistance is included in the form of technical support. The formal support varies depending on the needs of the provider and the community. The goals of this project include: (1) decreased substance use; (2) reduced probability of relapse/reoccurrence; (3) lower rates of re-incarceration; and (4) improved family functioning and safety.

PA

The City of Erie is applying for a Category 1 award in the amount of $459,576. The Probation Transition Response Project will strengthen methods that local law enforcement can use to develop and expand comprehensive, locally driven responses to opioids, stimulants, and other substances of misuse and address an identified gap in services and/or invention activity for probationers with opioid use risks. The gap analysis is derived from data collected over the last two years while implementing other strategies for high-risk substance use disorder (SUD) probationers. The Erie Police Department (EPD) will create a COSSAP Diversion and Investigation Unit that will help identify at-risk individuals or low-level offenders for diversion and referral programs. The goal is to help these individuals enter into support programs, be connected with resources, and avoid the possibility of negative outcomes such as incarceration or escalation of involvement in illicit substance use. EPD will also form a Survivor Follow-Up Team of two officers who will focus on individuals who have survived an opioid or illicit drug overdose. These interactions can accomplish several goals, including building trust with law enforcement, conveying the very serious nature of illicit drugs, and reinforcing that supports are available. The project's strategy will expand current law enforcement mentorship programs with Erie Public School students. The Erie Police Athletic League (PAL) has demonstrated the value and impact of the cop-kid relationship in the city after relaunching in 2015. Through this COSSAP site-based initiative, Erie PAL will further expand positive activities with officers and youth. All of these new law enforcement endeavors will leverage and complement existing resources for Erie residents impacted by opioids and substance misuse. This project serves the jurisdiction within the City of Erie boundaries, with an estimated population of 95,508, but it should be noted that the population protected by the Erie Police Department within the jurisdiction goes beyond the residents living within the city. The project includes partnerships between the Erie Police Department, Mercyhurst University Civic Institute, and the many agencies, providers, and resources available in the City of Erie for individuals and their families. Priority considerations addressed in this application include that the project will benefit individuals residing in high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties.

City of Erie

Pennsylvania

The City of Erie is applying for a Category 1 award in the amount of $459,576. The Probation Transition Response Project will strengthen methods that local law enforcement can use to develop and expand comprehensive, locally driven responses to opioids, stimulants, and other substances of misuse and address an identified gap in services and/or invention activity for probationers with opioid use risks. The gap analysis is derived from data collected over the last two years while implementing other strategies for high-risk substance use disorder (SUD) probationers. The Erie Police Department (EPD) will create a COSSAP Diversion and Investigation Unit that will help identify at-risk individuals or low-level offenders for diversion and referral programs. The goal is to help these individuals enter into support programs, be connected with resources, and avoid the possibility of negative outcomes such as incarceration or escalation of involvement in illicit substance use. EPD will also form a Survivor Follow-Up Team of two officers who will focus on individuals who have survived an opioid or illicit drug overdose. These interactions can accomplish several goals, including building trust with law enforcement, conveying the very serious nature of illicit drugs, and reinforcing that supports are available. The project's strategy will expand current law enforcement mentorship programs with Erie Public School students. The Erie Police Athletic League (PAL) has demonstrated the value and impact of the cop-kid relationship in the city after relaunching in 2015. Through this COSSAP site-based initiative, Erie PAL will further expand positive activities with officers and youth. All of these new law enforcement endeavors will leverage and complement existing resources for Erie residents impacted by opioids and substance misuse. This project serves the jurisdiction within the City of Erie boundaries, with an estimated population of 95,508, but it should be noted that the population protected by the Erie Police Department within the jurisdiction goes beyond the residents living within the city. The project includes partnerships between the Erie Police Department, Mercyhurst University Civic Institute, and the many agencies, providers, and resources available in the City of Erie for individuals and their families. Priority considerations addressed in this application include that the project will benefit individuals residing in high-poverty areas or persistent-poverty counties.

SC

The City of Charleston is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $900,000. The Charleston County Addiction Crisis Task Force Police Assisted Peer Recovery Program, a law enforcement diversion program that will fund three positions: one project coordinator to provide data collection and analysis services to all law enforcement agencies in Charleston County and two peer support specialists to support law enforcement officers while conducting outreach. The project will also expand Charleston’s existing partnership with the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) to include officer training, oversight of peer support specialists, and the design of multimedia products to inform officers and the community of this outreach initiative. The project will fund Critical Incident Management Software (CIMS) to facilitate communication between police-based outreach programs and treatment facilities to track follow-up success, with support from Kelley Research Associates (KRA) and ODMAP to facilitate real-time overdose follow-up communication across the county. The peer support specialists will deploy with trained QRT officers for the purpose of engaging individuals who recently suffered an overdose or presented signs of a substance use disorder during an interaction with law enforcement. They will be responsible for developing recovery plans to support overdose survivors as they transition to treatment. Harm reduction kits that include fentanyl test strips, clean injection equipment, naloxone, gloves, and information on local resources so that overdose deaths and other negative health outcomes associated with drug use can be reduced will be made available to survivors and at other locations. The goal of the project is to achieve a 15 percent reduction in the number of days from overdose to outreach. The project serves the City of Charleston, which is the nexus of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a population estimated at 713,000, with an estimated 411,000 in Charleston County. The project includes partnerships with the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, all of which have officers serving on the Charleston County Addiction Crisis Task Force (ACT Force). The project will engage Kelley Research Associates to implement the CIMS and to evaluate the program. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities. The project will also benefit individuals residing in high-poverty areas.

City of Charleston

South Carolina

The City of Charleston is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $900,000. The Charleston County Addiction Crisis Task Force Police Assisted Peer Recovery Program, a law enforcement diversion program that will fund three positions: one project coordinator to provide data collection and analysis services to all law enforcement agencies in Charleston County and two peer support specialists to support law enforcement officers while conducting outreach. The project will also expand Charleston’s existing partnership with the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI) to include officer training, oversight of peer support specialists, and the design of multimedia products to inform officers and the community of this outreach initiative. The project will fund Critical Incident Management Software (CIMS) to facilitate communication between police-based outreach programs and treatment facilities to track follow-up success, with support from Kelley Research Associates (KRA) and ODMAP to facilitate real-time overdose follow-up communication across the county. The peer support specialists will deploy with trained QRT officers for the purpose of engaging individuals who recently suffered an overdose or presented signs of a substance use disorder during an interaction with law enforcement. They will be responsible for developing recovery plans to support overdose survivors as they transition to treatment. Harm reduction kits that include fentanyl test strips, clean injection equipment, naloxone, gloves, and information on local resources so that overdose deaths and other negative health outcomes associated with drug use can be reduced will be made available to survivors and at other locations. The goal of the project is to achieve a 15 percent reduction in the number of days from overdose to outreach. The project serves the City of Charleston, which is the nexus of the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville Metropolitan Statistical Area and has a population estimated at 713,000, with an estimated 411,000 in Charleston County. The project includes partnerships with the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, all of which have officers serving on the Charleston County Addiction Crisis Task Force (ACT Force). The project will engage Kelley Research Associates to implement the CIMS and to evaluate the program. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants; high rates of overdose deaths; and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities. The project will also benefit individuals residing in high-poverty areas.

SC

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), located in Northwest South Carolina, project involves implementing and delivering a law enforcement led diversion to treatment initiative in Greenville County, which has a population of 516,126. The project will develop a comprehensive local response to the county’s substance abuse problem through synthesizing grant resources with existing practices and personnel to support planned activities per allowable use of funds to: (1) enhance existing police assisted addiction and recovery initiative (PAARI) program with law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion (30 percent of budget); (2) collaborate with the coroner's office and research partner on a data dashboard and real-time overdose tracking program (5 percent); (3) provide naloxone for law enforcement and first responders (11 percent); (4) support school-based prevention and parental education programs to connect law enforcement with K-12 students (8 percent); (5) deliver evidence-based substance use disorder treatment including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), counseling, and connections with certified peer support specialists (15 percent); and (6) embed a case manager into GCSO to divert individuals with substance use disorders as early as possible in the Sequential Intercept Model (16 percent). To aid in implementing this plan, recovery community stakeholders from the county, including law enforcement agencies, community behavioral and mental health services, addiction services, state representatives, and hospital and emergency services will be included on the multidisciplinary Substance Abuse and Recovery Coordinating Council (SARCC) to participate in ongoing meetings with the project team and serve as a permanent standing body with the mission of increasing cooperation and collaboration to sustain substance abuse and recovery efforts. The project addresses issues related to racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality through providing enhanced implicit bias training for law enforcement and treatment services targeted to underserved minority communities. Additionally, the includes a strong research-practitioner partnership with the Center for Justice and Social Research at Clemson University to provide a scientific mixed methods program evaluation to provide empirical feedback for program improvement and dissemination of process and outcome findings to the law enforcement, and research communities.

Greenville County

South Carolina

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO), located in Northwest South Carolina, project involves implementing and delivering a law enforcement led diversion to treatment initiative in Greenville County, which has a population of 516,126. The project will develop a comprehensive local response to the county’s substance abuse problem through synthesizing grant resources with existing practices and personnel to support planned activities per allowable use of funds to: (1) enhance existing police assisted addiction and recovery initiative (PAARI) program with law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion (30 percent of budget); (2) collaborate with the coroner's office and research partner on a data dashboard and real-time overdose tracking program (5 percent); (3) provide naloxone for law enforcement and first responders (11 percent); (4) support school-based prevention and parental education programs to connect law enforcement with K-12 students (8 percent); (5) deliver evidence-based substance use disorder treatment including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), counseling, and connections with certified peer support specialists (15 percent); and (6) embed a case manager into GCSO to divert individuals with substance use disorders as early as possible in the Sequential Intercept Model (16 percent). To aid in implementing this plan, recovery community stakeholders from the county, including law enforcement agencies, community behavioral and mental health services, addiction services, state representatives, and hospital and emergency services will be included on the multidisciplinary Substance Abuse and Recovery Coordinating Council (SARCC) to participate in ongoing meetings with the project team and serve as a permanent standing body with the mission of increasing cooperation and collaboration to sustain substance abuse and recovery efforts. The project addresses issues related to racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality through providing enhanced implicit bias training for law enforcement and treatment services targeted to underserved minority communities. Additionally, the includes a strong research-practitioner partnership with the Center for Justice and Social Research at Clemson University to provide a scientific mixed methods program evaluation to provide empirical feedback for program improvement and dissemination of process and outcome findings to the law enforcement, and research communities.

TN

Sevier County will enhance the Sevier County Offender Recovery Program (SCORP), a comprehensive, collaborative effort to identify and refer individuals to treatment and recovery following incarceration. Interventions begin during incarceration; however, the majority of services are provided immediately at release during the probationary period. Funds will be used to hire a peer mentor coordinator, a women’s service liaison, and a probation/life skills coach for incarcerated women enrolled in the program and expand the substance abuse prevention education program to include the families of SCORP participants.

Sevier County Government

Tennessee

Sevier County will enhance the Sevier County Offender Recovery Program (SCORP), a comprehensive, collaborative effort to identify and refer individuals to treatment and recovery following incarceration. Interventions begin during incarceration; however, the majority of services are provided immediately at release during the probationary period. Funds will be used to hire a peer mentor coordinator, a women’s service liaison, and a probation/life skills coach for incarcerated women enrolled in the program and expand the substance abuse prevention education program to include the families of SCORP participants.

TN

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse will: • Support six new implementation project sites (Davidson, Montgomery, Sumner, Putnam, Wilson, and Washington counties) as well as five enhancement project sites for counties that are currently COAP funded (Sullivan, Hamilton, Knox, Jefferson, and Coffee Counties). Sullivan and Hamilton Counties will (1) embed behavioral health clinicians with law enforcement; (2) provide employment readiness and connection to employment services both pre- and post-incarceration; and/or (3) deliver evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy courses. • Enhance six regional drug-endangered children response teams in Dickson, Cheatham, Lawrence, Franklin, Jefferson, and Scott Counties. Response teams will use a collaborative approach in meeting the needs of children affected by drug overdose events as well as their parents. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will also implement a statewide prevention strategy by creating a virtual reality game with education content for students to engage with at school events. • Integrate three certified peer recovery support specialist (CPRS) positions in probation and parole offices across the state, one in each of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee. • Provide recovery support services, including recovery housing, as part of a comprehensive response. Dr. Carolyn Marie Audet and Lauren Allard will serve as the research partners for this project.

Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse will: • Support six new implementation project sites (Davidson, Montgomery, Sumner, Putnam, Wilson, and Washington counties) as well as five enhancement project sites for counties that are currently COAP funded (Sullivan, Hamilton, Knox, Jefferson, and Coffee Counties). Sullivan and Hamilton Counties will (1) embed behavioral health clinicians with law enforcement; (2) provide employment readiness and connection to employment services both pre- and post-incarceration; and/or (3) deliver evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy courses. • Enhance six regional drug-endangered children response teams in Dickson, Cheatham, Lawrence, Franklin, Jefferson, and Scott Counties. Response teams will use a collaborative approach in meeting the needs of children affected by drug overdose events as well as their parents. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will also implement a statewide prevention strategy by creating a virtual reality game with education content for students to engage with at school events. • Integrate three certified peer recovery support specialist (CPRS) positions in probation and parole offices across the state, one in each of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee. • Provide recovery support services, including recovery housing, as part of a comprehensive response. Dr. Carolyn Marie Audet and Lauren Allard will serve as the research partners for this project.

WI

The City of West Allis Fire Department (WAFD) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $900,000. The Mobile Integrated Health MAT Access Advocate Program (MAAP) will expand the range and capability of the West Allis Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team to facilitate MIH and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services to every Milwaukee County municipality, as well as support the development of training materials to allow for application of sustainable MIH practices across the entire county. WAFD’s MIH team pairs a community paramedic and a certified peer recovery support specialist who provide targeted outreach and facilitate new enrollments or reengagements to MAT services, reaching the opioid use disorder (OUD) population via either real-time, 24/7 response to overdose emergencies or visitation to patients referred to the program from local and regional partners. MAAP will connect with each participating municipality’s local framework to establish a referral process and connect the local effort to broader regional efforts. A local hospital will provide MAT (including buprenorphine induction), mental health screening with counseling, and warm handoffs to primary care and community MAT clinics. MAPP will educate police, fire, and health departments in all Milwaukee County suburbs on how they can adopt the West Allis OUD outreach practices. MAAP will also work with county stakeholders to ensure children impacted by substance misuse receive required services. The project serves Milwaukee County, which comprises 19 municipalities and has a population of 945,726. The project includes partnerships with the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney, the Milwaukee County House of Corrections, the Milwaukee County Opioid Fatality Review team, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Milwaukee Fire Department Opioid Response Initiative, the Wisconsin Department of Health Service, and the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management. The project will engage Dr. Jennifer Hernandez-Meier of the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin as the primary research and evaluation partner. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants, high rates of overdose deaths, and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

City of West Allis

Wisconsin

The City of West Allis Fire Department (WAFD) is applying for Category 1 funding in the amount of $900,000. The Mobile Integrated Health MAT Access Advocate Program (MAAP) will expand the range and capability of the West Allis Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team to facilitate MIH and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services to every Milwaukee County municipality, as well as support the development of training materials to allow for application of sustainable MIH practices across the entire county. WAFD’s MIH team pairs a community paramedic and a certified peer recovery support specialist who provide targeted outreach and facilitate new enrollments or reengagements to MAT services, reaching the opioid use disorder (OUD) population via either real-time, 24/7 response to overdose emergencies or visitation to patients referred to the program from local and regional partners. MAAP will connect with each participating municipality’s local framework to establish a referral process and connect the local effort to broader regional efforts. A local hospital will provide MAT (including buprenorphine induction), mental health screening with counseling, and warm handoffs to primary care and community MAT clinics. MAPP will educate police, fire, and health departments in all Milwaukee County suburbs on how they can adopt the West Allis OUD outreach practices. MAAP will also work with county stakeholders to ensure children impacted by substance misuse receive required services. The project serves Milwaukee County, which comprises 19 municipalities and has a population of 945,726. The project includes partnerships with the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney, the Milwaukee County House of Corrections, the Milwaukee County Opioid Fatality Review team, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Milwaukee Fire Department Opioid Response Initiative, the Wisconsin Department of Health Service, and the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management. The project will engage Dr. Jennifer Hernandez-Meier of the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin as the primary research and evaluation partner. Priority considerations addressed in this application include a high rate of primary treatment admissions for heroin, opioids, and stimulants, high rates of overdose deaths, and a lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities.

WI

Milwaukee County, with an estimated population of 945,726, through the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office and in collaboration with the Milwaukee Community Justice Council, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and a variety of public health and public safety partners, sought $1,200,000 in Subcategory 1a grant funding to create a Milwaukee Overdose Public Health and Safety Team (OD-PHAST). This project would expand and further coordinate current efforts to address overdoses, as well as overall substance misuse issues across the county. The OD-PHAST project aims to: (1) expand the delivery and analysis of near real-time data between multiple public health and public safety partners; (2) utilize both aggregate data and insights from case reviews to develop strategies and recommendations for changes to reduce the likelihood of future overdose incidents; (3) increase capacity to deliver timely toxicology findings to public health and safety partners; (4) enrich understanding of fatal overdose risk factors through expanded next-of-kin interviews; and (5) connect families impacted by overdose, particularly children, to services to mitigate the impact of the trauma experienced. Priority considerations addressed in this application include high-poverty areas and Qualified Opportunity Zones.

Milwaukee County

Wisconsin

Milwaukee County, with an estimated population of 945,726, through the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office and in collaboration with the Milwaukee Community Justice Council, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and a variety of public health and public safety partners, sought $1,200,000 in Subcategory 1a grant funding to create a Milwaukee Overdose Public Health and Safety Team (OD-PHAST). This project would expand and further coordinate current efforts to address overdoses, as well as overall substance misuse issues across the county. The OD-PHAST project aims to: (1) expand the delivery and analysis of near real-time data between multiple public health and public safety partners; (2) utilize both aggregate data and insights from case reviews to develop strategies and recommendations for changes to reduce the likelihood of future overdose incidents; (3) increase capacity to deliver timely toxicology findings to public health and safety partners; (4) enrich understanding of fatal overdose risk factors through expanded next-of-kin interviews; and (5) connect families impacted by overdose, particularly children, to services to mitigate the impact of the trauma experienced. Priority considerations addressed in this application include high-poverty areas and Qualified Opportunity Zones.

WI

The Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) project will leverage existing coalition work, create best practices in prevention, and address the county’s increasing number of overdose deaths. The Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team has been a platform for community change to address system issues, yet the number of overdoses continues to rise. While partners recognize the benefits of the work, there is an identified need to increase the level of response and improve the collected metrics. The project includes: 1) Real-time data collection. WCHD will contract with a researcher to continue regular OFR monthly reviews to: (1) collect overdose data; (2) understand aggregate data trends; (3) report findings to the OFR governing committees; (4) build collaborative partnerships throughout the community to drive coordinated action related to substance use; (5) increase capacity for the implementation of current and new OFR recommendations to continue addressing the main purpose of OFRs, to prevent overdose deaths. In addition, WCHD will contract with a researcher who will evaluate the current state of the work and impact in the community through data analysis, utilization of the CDC Overdose Data2Action Evaluation tool, and provide data to COSSAP to help drive future action. 2) Embedding social workers, peers, and/or persons with lived experience at any intercept of the Sequential Intercept Model. WCHD will contract with Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response to respond on-scene to address the grief and needs of next-of-kin by connecting them to support services and conducting next-of-kin interviews to better understand the circumstances that led to an overdose death and to prevent future overdoses. 3) law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion; and peer recovery support services. WCHD will contract with Solutions Recovery, Inc. to implement a WC-OFR recommended, data-driven rapid response program that is being created in summer 2022 for full launch in fall 2022, and to create sustainability of the program over three years. Through this COSSAP funding, Winnebago County will have the expanded resources to implement recommendations and changes driven by data that holistically affect individuals and families who have been overlooked, forgotten, and left on their own to change their lives. Creating a new person-centered customer service model of care, support, navigation, and hope will change the trajectory of overdose deaths in Winnebago County.

Winnebago County

Wisconsin

The Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) project will leverage existing coalition work, create best practices in prevention, and address the county’s increasing number of overdose deaths. The Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Team has been a platform for community change to address system issues, yet the number of overdoses continues to rise. While partners recognize the benefits of the work, there is an identified need to increase the level of response and improve the collected metrics. The project includes: 1) Real-time data collection. WCHD will contract with a researcher to continue regular OFR monthly reviews to: (1) collect overdose data; (2) understand aggregate data trends; (3) report findings to the OFR governing committees; (4) build collaborative partnerships throughout the community to drive coordinated action related to substance use; (5) increase capacity for the implementation of current and new OFR recommendations to continue addressing the main purpose of OFRs, to prevent overdose deaths. In addition, WCHD will contract with a researcher who will evaluate the current state of the work and impact in the community through data analysis, utilization of the CDC Overdose Data2Action Evaluation tool, and provide data to COSSAP to help drive future action. 2) Embedding social workers, peers, and/or persons with lived experience at any intercept of the Sequential Intercept Model. WCHD will contract with Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response to respond on-scene to address the grief and needs of next-of-kin by connecting them to support services and conducting next-of-kin interviews to better understand the circumstances that led to an overdose death and to prevent future overdoses. 3) law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion; and peer recovery support services. WCHD will contract with Solutions Recovery, Inc. to implement a WC-OFR recommended, data-driven rapid response program that is being created in summer 2022 for full launch in fall 2022, and to create sustainability of the program over three years. Through this COSSAP funding, Winnebago County will have the expanded resources to implement recommendations and changes driven by data that holistically affect individuals and families who have been overlooked, forgotten, and left on their own to change their lives. Creating a new person-centered customer service model of care, support, navigation, and hope will change the trajectory of overdose deaths in Winnebago County.

WV

The Monongalia County Health Department project service area includes all of Monongalia County. This encompasses urban and rural areas where community concerns include resident struggles with substance use disorder (SUD), access to treatment options, and stigma surrounding these issues. In 2019, Monongalia County was found to have the fifth highest frequency of overdose deaths in the state, with 71% of these deaths involving opioids. The county was one of five awarded a grant in 2019 by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a Quick Response Team (QRT). The goal of that funding was to reduce the numbers of unintentional opioid overdose deaths and increase the numbers of individuals participating in treatment and rehabilitation. QRT is comprised of emergency medical services, 911, law enforcement, Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS), public health officials, social service providers, faith-based organizations, and local pharmacies. The main goals of this project are consistent with COSSUP's goals to reduce the impact of the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, including a reduction in the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives.

Monongalia County

West Virginia

The Monongalia County Health Department project service area includes all of Monongalia County. This encompasses urban and rural areas where community concerns include resident struggles with substance use disorder (SUD), access to treatment options, and stigma surrounding these issues. In 2019, Monongalia County was found to have the fifth highest frequency of overdose deaths in the state, with 71% of these deaths involving opioids. The county was one of five awarded a grant in 2019 by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources to develop a Quick Response Team (QRT). The goal of that funding was to reduce the numbers of unintentional opioid overdose deaths and increase the numbers of individuals participating in treatment and rehabilitation. QRT is comprised of emergency medical services, 911, law enforcement, Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS), public health officials, social service providers, faith-based organizations, and local pharmacies. The main goals of this project are consistent with COSSUP's goals to reduce the impact of the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, including a reduction in the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives.

WV

The Justice and Community Services (JCS) section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services seeks to: • Expand and improve the state’s Handle with Care (HWC) initiative. The HWC initiative supports children exposed to trauma and violence through improved communication and collaboration between law enforcement and schools/child care agencies and mental health providers, and connects families, schools, and communities to mental health services; • Expand and enhance the West Virginia law enforcement assisted diversion program, which diverts those suspected of low-level drug and prostitution offenses away from jail and prosecution into case management, legal coordination, and other supportive services. This aspect of the proposed project will focus heavily on the counties of Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Webster, and Wirt, which currently lack diversion programs; and • Enhance and expand telehealth services for those in underserved and geographically isolated communities. Similar to the diversion aspect, the telehealth aspect of the proposed project would expand services to Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Webster, and Wirt Counties. These services will include psychiatric evaluations with treatment plan development, individual and group counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment (including buprenorphine and naltrexone), and peer recovery support services. JCS has partnered with the West Virginia Office of Research and Strategic Planning, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Behavioral Health, and the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy in the implementation, monitoring, oversight, and sustainment of the proposed project.

West Virginia Division of Administrative Services, Justice and Community Services

West Virginia

The Justice and Community Services (JCS) section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services seeks to: • Expand and improve the state’s Handle with Care (HWC) initiative. The HWC initiative supports children exposed to trauma and violence through improved communication and collaboration between law enforcement and schools/child care agencies and mental health providers, and connects families, schools, and communities to mental health services; • Expand and enhance the West Virginia law enforcement assisted diversion program, which diverts those suspected of low-level drug and prostitution offenses away from jail and prosecution into case management, legal coordination, and other supportive services. This aspect of the proposed project will focus heavily on the counties of Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Webster, and Wirt, which currently lack diversion programs; and • Enhance and expand telehealth services for those in underserved and geographically isolated communities. Similar to the diversion aspect, the telehealth aspect of the proposed project would expand services to Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Webster, and Wirt Counties. These services will include psychiatric evaluations with treatment plan development, individual and group counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment (including buprenorphine and naltrexone), and peer recovery support services. JCS has partnered with the West Virginia Office of Research and Strategic Planning, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Behavioral Health, and the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy in the implementation, monitoring, oversight, and sustainment of the proposed project.