Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - Address: 900 E. Laharpe St. P.O. Box 767, Kirksville, MO 63501-4520; (141 Communications Drive, Hannibal, MO 63401-3670) Project Director: Stacey Juilfs Phone: 217-222-6277 (ext. 2526) Fax: 573-603-1462 Email: Stacey.Juilfs@pfh.org; contractgrantmanagement@pfh.org Website: https://pfh.org/; https://clarity-healthcare.org/ Preferred Family Healthcare (dba Clarity Healthcare) will implement a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response project to reduce the morbidity and mortality of SUD/OUD in the high-risk rural communities we serve. The proposed catchment area includes the Missouri counties of Pike, Marion, Monroe, and Ralls as well as the Illinois counties of Adams and Pike. These are predominately low-income, socioeconomically disadvantaged counties with statistically higher rates of uninsured and disabled populations. The sociopolitical challenges of the last few years have placed unprecedented strains on individuals suffering from OUD/SUD and the healthcare providers who treat them. The year 2020 alone saw a dramatic 31% increase in the rate of overdose deaths nationwide compared to 2019, and these numbers have only continued soaring. Overdose deaths in Missouri have increased 58% statewide since 2016. Just from 2020 to 2021, the state saw an additional 15% increase in overdose deaths. Likewise, overdose deaths in Illinois have increased 55% from 2016-2021. Substance use challenges are only compounded for low-income populations living in rural areas with limited treatment options and a lack of overdose prevention/response resources. This project is designed to address these challenges and barriers through the implementation of a Care Coordinator/Community Liaison and Illinois-based Peer Support Specialist to facilitate community-wide trainings and coordinate care and resource acquisition for individuals suffering from SUD/OUD. Project goals include the following: (1) Provide education on OUD and overdose to community organizations and individuals; (2) Provide behavioral health treatment referral and care coordination for those with SUD/OUD experiencing (or at risk for) overdose; and (3) Provide wraparound community resource connection and wellness support for those impacted by SUD/OUD, including incidents of overdose. Project activities will align with the following Allowable Activities as listed in the NOFO document for HRSA-23-038: (#1) Purchasing and distributing naloxone or other relevant supplies within the target rural service area; (#3) Offering certification, formalized training programs, and/or professional mentorship opportunities to enhance providers’ ability to care for individuals with SUD/OUD; (#4) Assisting uninsured individuals with SUD/OUD in the target rural service area with obtaining health insurance and accessing SUD/OUD treatment and other behavioral health and social services (#5) Training peer recovery support specialists and coordinating placements in local SUD/OUD service delivery sites.; (#7) Improving capacity for and access to telehealth treatment services for SUD/OUD; and (#8) Providing Continuing Education Units (CEU) as well as Continuing Medical Education Units (CME) that are recognized by their respective boards, which allow for providers to enhance their ability to provide care to individuals with SUD/OUD. Specific project activities will include providing education/outreach to a minimum of 100 individuals and 10 organizations, distributing 200 Naloxone kits and 200 medication disposal kits, and assisting at least 50 clients with copayments and prescription costs. All (100%) participants will be provided with overdose reversal drugs at no cost to them. Project activities will be informed by SAMHSA’s Opioid Prevention Toolkit and other evidence-based practices, including SBIRT, PQH-9, DLA-20, Care Coordination, Peer Support, Patient-Centered Medical Home, MAT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed Therapy, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing.
