Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Impact - Stayin' Alive Coalition proposes the Franklin County Recovery Support and Navigation Network, a four-year initiative to strengthen the rural continuum of care for individuals affected by substance use disorder (SUD) in Franklin County, Indiana. The project will improve access to treatment, recovery support services, housing resources, and other supportive services while addressing significant barriers created by rural geography, transportation limitations, housing instability, and fragmented systems of care. Although Franklin County reports a relatively high median household income, that statistic masks substantial disparities within the county's rural communities, particularly Laurel, Brookville, Metamora, Cedar Grove, and surrounding unincorporated areas, where poverty, limited housing options, transportation barriers, and reduced access to behavioral health services contribute to poor recovery outcomes. Individuals involved with Court Services, law enforcement, and other community systems often struggle to navigate available resources, resulting in delayed treatment, unstable housing, repeated justice involvement, and increased risk of overdose. The centerpiece of this project is the creation of a full-time Housing and Recovery Navigator who will coordinate care across healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, Court Services, law enforcement, housing providers, and community-based organizations. The Navigator will provide individualized care coordination, connect participants to treatment and recovery services, assist with housing and transportation needs, strengthen referral pathways, and expand partnerships with regional providers to improve access to evidence-based substance use disorder treatment. Project partners include Franklin County Court Services, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, the Franklin County Health Department, Recovery Café Franklin County, the Franklin County Health and Housing Coalition, Neighborhood Bridges, and regional behavioral health and treatment providers. Together, these partners will strengthen cross-sector collaboration, improve care coordination, and build a sustainable network that expands access to services throughout the county. By the end of the four-year project period, the Franklin County Recovery Support and Navigation Network will improve access to treatment and recovery services, increase housing stability, strengthen the rural behavioral health workforce, enhance collaboration among partner organizations, and improve long-term recovery outcomes for individuals and families affected by substance use disorder throughout Franklin County.
