Rural Communities Opioid Response (Planning) - Heartland Rural Health Network (HRHN) proposes a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP-Planning) project that builds on longstanding regional partnerships to strengthen the substance use disorder (SUD) and behavioral health system serving Highlands and Hardee Counties in south-central Florida. Although healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, prevention coalitions, and community partners regularly work together across county lines, the region has not had dedicated resources to collectively assess behavioral health needs, identify shared priorities, and develop a unified strategy for strengthening services. HRHN will lead a structured planning process that transforms existing collaboration into a coordinated regional network prepared to pursue future implementation opportunities. The project will focus on opioid use disorder while recognizing the broader challenges created by alcohol misuse, methamphetamine, fentanyl, polysubstance use, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Planning activities will include a regional needs and assets assessment, resource mapping, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, community listening sessions, and data analysis conducted with healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, individuals with lived experience, family members, and other community stakeholders. Findings will be used to identify service gaps, strengthen referral pathways, improve coordination across organizations, and develop a Regional Substance Use Disorder Strategic Action Plan that reflects the priorities of Highlands and Hardee Counties. HRHN will convene a multi-sector consortium that includes healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, prevention partners, hospitals, recovery organizations, public health agencies, schools, emergency responders, local governments, faith-based organizations, and other community-based organizations. Initial partners include Heartland Core Wellness and Drug Free Hardee, with additional partners recruited during the planning period to address identified service gaps. By the end of the project, the region will have a stronger collaborative network, a shared understanding of community needs, formalized regional priorities, and a practical roadmap for strengthening prevention, treatment, recovery, and recovery support services across the target rural service area.
