Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma (ITO) seeks funding through the HRSA Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Overdose Response initiative to expand evidence-based strategies addressing opioid and stimulant use disorder within Payne, Lincoln, and Logan Counties. This project builds on ITO’s previous RCORP-Planning and RCORP-Implementation grants, which established the Grey Snow Wellness Consortium (GSWC) and identified critical service gaps in treatment access, justice-involved reentry support, and transportation barriers. Through this funding opportunity, ITO’s Perkins Family Clinic Behavioral Health (PFC-BH) will implement targeted interventions to reduce overdose-related morbidity and mortality in these high-risk rural communities. Key project activities include: Expanding access to treatment – Introducing Vivitrol as a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) option to increase rural access to evidence-based treatment by 40%. Enhancing justice-involved reentry services – Implementing a tracking system to improve post-release engagement by 10%, ensuring continuity of care for individuals with opioid and stimulant use disorders. Addressing transportation barriers – Conducting a community-wide needs assessment and developing sustainable transportation solutions to improve access for at least 25% of individuals seeking treatment and recovery services. Strengthening harm reduction and recovery support – Increasing participation in culturally responsive Wellbriety groups by 20%, expanding outreach, and fostering collaboration with tribal and non-tribal organizations to enhance recovery networks. Substance use disorder (SUD) remains a pressing issue in Oklahoma, where overdose deaths and justice system involvement disproportionately affect rural communities. Methamphetamine-related fatalities in the state increased twenty-onefold since 2007, and individuals with untreated SUD face high rates of recidivism. The lack of accessible treatment options, inadequate reentry services, and transportation barriers further exacerbate the crisis, particularly in rural and tribal communities where treatment availability is limited, and stigma discourages individuals from seeking help. ITO’s proposed initiative prioritizes culturally responsive interventions to improve treatment accessibility and long-term recovery outcomes. The program will integrate real-time tracking of client engagement, post-release follow-up, and harm reduction distribution metrics to enhance program effectiveness. Leveraging Medicaid reimbursement, tribal funding allocations, and private foundation support, ITO will ensure the sustainability of MAT services, transportation support, and recovery support beyond the 12-month grant period. Through these efforts, ITO will foster a data-driven, and community-centered response to opioid and stimulant use disorder in rural Oklahoma.
