Rural Communities Opioid Response (Planning) - Project Title: Miami County Rural SUD Response Network Applicant Organization Name: Indiana Health Centers, Inc. Applicant Organization Address: 661 E Main St., Peru, IN 46970 Webpage address: https://indianahealthonline.org Project Director: Andy Zirkle Project Director Email: anzirkle@ihcinc.org Project Director Phone: 317-289-9032 ABSTRACT Indiana Health Centers, Inc. (IHC) proposes the Miami County Rural SUD Response Network to expand access to substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) prevention, treatment, recovery, and recovery support services in rural Miami County, Indiana. Miami County is a federally designated rural community of approximately 35,700 residents facing significant behavioral health workforce shortages, transportation barriers, and limited SUD services. Designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), the county also experiences high rates of substance use, opioid overdoses, mental health conditions, poverty, and chronic disease, leaving many residents without timely access to coordinated behavioral healthcare. IHC will lead a multi-sector network that includes the Miami County Health Department, Miami County YMCA, Area Five on Aging and Community Services, and Parkview Health to strengthen coordination across healthcare, public health, behavioral health, recovery, and community organizations. Together, the partners will conduct a comprehensive assessment of local SUD and OUD needs, identify service gaps and community assets, develop formal data-sharing and referral processes, engage individuals with lived experience, and create a Strategic Action Plan to guide future expansion of evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery, and recovery support services. The network will also prepare providers and partner organizations through workforce training, technical assistance, and operational planning to strengthen the local system of care. The project will serve individuals at risk for or affected by SUD and OUD, including people in recovery, families, and other residents of Miami County who experience barriers to behavioral healthcare because of geography, workforce shortages, or limited transportation. Community stakeholders, healthcare providers, emergency responders, public health agencies, recovery organizations, and individuals with lived experience will participate throughout the planning process to ensure that proposed solutions reflect local priorities and community needs. The project will establish a coordinated, sustainable rural network with strengthened partnerships, improved care coordination, standardized referral pathways, enhanced workforce readiness, and a data-driven Strategic Action Plan that positions Miami County to expand access to high-quality SUD prevention, treatment, recovery, and recovery support services while improving long-term health outcomes for rural residents.
