Rural Communities Opioid Response (Planning) - Project Abstract Summary Project Title: Delta Together – One Community, One Network, One Future Free From Opioid Misuse Applicant Name: Strategic Solutions for Families – Delta Operations Address: 150 North Harvey Suites, Greenville, MS 38701-3729 Contact Name: Doris Styne Benford Contact Phone: 662-344-3003 Email Address: dbenford.strategics@gmail.com Strategic Solutions for Families–Delta Operations (SSFF-DO) proposes Delta Together, a two-year Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Planning Network designed to strengthen prevention, treatment, recovery, and recovery support services for individuals affected by opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) in rural Washington County, Mississippi. Guided by the vision, "One Community. One Network. One Future Free from Opioid Misuse," the project will establish a sustainable, cross-sector network that conducts a comprehensive community needs assessment, identifies service gaps, strengthens referral pathways, evaluates provider and workforce capacity, and develops a data-driven Rural SUD Action Plan to improve coordination and access to evidence-based services. While formally known as Delta Together, the initiative will be publicly branded as Delta 2Gether to reflect the shared commitment of community partners working together to build a healthier, stronger Delta. Washington County, located in the Mississippi Delta, is a federally designated rural community with approximately 40,446 residents. The county experiences persistent poverty, transportation barriers, behavioral health workforce shortages, fragmented service systems, and limited access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), recovery supports, and specialty behavioral health services. These challenges contribute to delayed treatment, poor care coordination, and increased vulnerability to opioid misuse, methamphetamine use, and other substance use disorders. Delta 2Gether will focus on addressing the county's fragmented behavioral health system by strengthening collaboration among providers, improving care coordination, expanding workforce readiness, identifying gaps across the continuum of prevention, treatment, recovery, and recovery support services, and preparing the community to implement evidence-based strategies through future RCORP Implementation funding. Planning activities will include community listening sessions, stakeholder interviews, provider assessments, systems mapping, resource inventories, and development of standardized referral protocols and sustainability strategies. Current network partners represent multiple sectors, including law enforcement, education, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and recovery support services. These partners contribute expertise in public safety, prevention, education, community engagement, outreach, and recovery support. During the planning period, the Network will expand to include healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, recovery organizations, emergency medical services, public health agencies, local government, businesses, social service organizations, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, and individuals with lived experience. This multidisciplinary approach will ensure a comprehensive, coordinated, and community-driven response to opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders throughout Washington County.
