Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program - ABSTRACT The purpose of Vegas Stronger’s Rural Health Access and Impact Project is to address gaps in care and improve service coordination for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring disorders (COD) in rural Nye County, NV. By integrating outreach, behavioral health, psychiatry, housing, and case management, the project promotes recovery and stability to underserved populations. The target population includes individuals at risk for or living with substance use disorder (SUD) or co-occurring disorders (COD) in Nye County, Nevada, with a focus on those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, older adults, veterans, or those experiencing homelessness. GOAL #1 Expand Vegas Stronger’s rural location, Nevada Stronger, in Nye County by increasing service capacity, building local partnerships, and enhancing engagement to provide accessible care. Objective: Hire, train, and deploy project staff including an outreach specialist, counselor, and case manager to expand the rural location. Outcome: Establish consistent, high-quality services while meeting project goals and maintaining financial accountability. GOAL #2: Deliver prevention and early intervention services to reduce SUD/COD risks and stigma, encouraging help-seeking behavior. Objective: Engage 180 individuals annually through outreach and assess 48 unduplicated individuals to connect them with services. Distribute 200 naloxone kits and 50 fentanyl test strips annually and train 10 partner agencies within the first year. Outcome: Increased community awareness and overdose prevention capacity. Goal #3: Provide effective treatment for OUD/SUD to improve health outcomes and retention in care. Objective: Expand access to integrated behavioral health services for 48 individuals annually, including psychiatric care for 12 clients via telehealth. Outcome: Improved access to psychiatric and SUD/COD treatment. Goal #4: Provide case management to support long-term recovery. Objective: Deliver personalized case management to 48 individuals and housing for 12 individuals annually, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) such as housing and employment. Outcome: Stable housing, employment, and consistent engagement in treatment. Goal 5: Create a collaborative, sustainable service delivery network. Objective: Establish three additional partnerships within the first three months to enhance service delivery. Outcome: Improved collaboration and a sustainable infrastructure. Evidence-based practices include Critical Time Intervention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Measurement-Based Care, Motivational Interviewing, Psychoeducation, and Trauma-Informed Care. Vegas Stronger has made significant strides in addressing healthcare disparities and service gaps in rural Nye County, NV. Its Nevada Stronger office has delivered impactful services in Nye County, utilizing telehealth technology, harm reduction tools, and integrated care models to address healthcare gaps. Staff training in evidence-based practices and cultural competency ensures high-quality, community-focused care, while hiring local providers builds workforce sustainability. With support from partnerships, including health clinics, housing providers, and advocacy groups, the organization will create a collaborative approach to care. Its harm reduction efforts include distributing naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips paired with training, empowering the community to save lives. By building on its existing infrastructure and leveraging partnerships, Vegas Stronger will expand its impact, creating sustainable solutions for healthcare challenges in Nye County. Vegas Stronger qualifies for the following funding preferences: Qualification 1: Health Professional Shortage Area and Qualification 2: Medically Underserved Community/Population. It is located in a HPSA and MUC/MUP area.
