Friday, May 2, 2025
5/2/2025
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Impact - The proposed RCORP- Impact project will establish The Atlas Center which aims to achieve several goals and objectives related to enhancing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery services, developing a responsive workforce, improving coordination with supportive social services, and ensuring sustainability. This project will provide both direct treatment and recovery services in all four counties to our rural Appalachian population that has historically suffered poor health outcomes, health disparities and other inequities. The target service area counties include Bell, Knox, Laurel and Whitley counties in southeast Kentucky. Key objectives of this project include efforts to: Expand access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) by opening a new service delivery site in Laurel County. Expand access to evidence-based, MOUD and trauma-informed counseling by hiring .50 FTE LCADC, 1.0 Trauma Therapist, and .25 Clinical Pharmacist Collect data to identify and plan treatment strategies to address emerging threats related to SUD including fentanyl and increased methamphetamine use. Increase certified peer support specialist services by training 30 PSS each year. Provide continuing education opportunities for SUD professionals and paraprofessionals by hosting Lunch and Learn sessions quarterly and an annual Behavioral Health Summit each year. Provide Mental Health First Aid training to 200 university students and community members each year. Utilize the Learning Collaborative to expand knowledge and skills for professional in the network serving persons impacted by SUD/OUD. Develop a resource guide of social services in the service area counties. Establish outreach efforts to increase community education and reduce stigma. Establish a strong, sustainability network to support SUD/OUD treatment and recovery services for the underserved, rural communities. The Data Focus Area for The Atlas Center project is emerging threats to SUD treatment including fentanyl and the increased use of psychostimulants, particularly in our southeast Kentucky service area. A diverse group of network partners including Baptist Health Corbin Hospital, Pharmacy, Medical Group, Behavioral Department and Hospital Outpatients Programming in additional to Cumberland River Comprehensive Care, KCEOC, Goodwill, TJC Consulting, the University of the Cumberland, Union Commonwealth University, and the Southeast Kentucky AHEC will work together to achieve the goals and objectives of this program. The RCORP Impact award will provide services to substance use treatment services 2,050 rural residents impacted by SUD, provide peer support services to 1,920 persons in recovery, train 30 new Peer Support Specialist annually over the four years of the project, and provide outreach and education to 250 community members annually. Project staff will participate in the HRSA Learning Collaborative with other rural grantees to improve services in an area where there is a shortage of mental health providers and resources are scarce. The Network will maximize resources and work together to develop sustainable programs to serve rural southeast Kentucky. Strong commitment including a formal common Letter of Commitment to this project, shared vision and the ability to utilize resources such as telehealth will ensure that there is no service delivery interruption in the case of natural disaster or other events.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).