Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - Applicant: Richland Medical Center Inc. dba Central Ozarks Medical Center Address: 304 W. Washington Ave, Richland, MO 65556 Project Director: Kelly Birdsong, Manager of Network Development/Population Health Description of the Project: Richland Medical Center dba Central Ozarks Medical Center (COMC) has identified opioid use disorder (OUD) as a priority and has been seeking resources to help combat the substance use disorder crisis in the five-county region including Camden, Laclede, Miller, Morgan, and Pulaski counties in central Missouri. COMC’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response (RCORP-OD) project’s goal is to reduce the morbidity and mortality of SUD, including OUD in its high-risk rural communities through the selected allowable activities. The overarching goal is to reduce morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high-risk rural communities through the selected allowable activities that will meet the immediate and short-term needs to improve access to, capacity for, and sustainability of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for SUD. Needs to be Addressed: This project will address the lack of providers trained in treating SUD including stimulant treatment by providing education opportunities for providers and staff. The service area also has lower income levels and education rates when compared to state and national rates and unemployment and poverty levels are higher. Residents in the service area also face significant transportation barriers. Services in this project will address these issues by connecting individuals in need to supportive social services including transportation and career and life skills training. Local school districts have also reached out regarding the need for prevention services. COMC will address this need through formal speaker engagement opportunities for students, parents, staff, and community partners. Proposed Services: Tier 1 - Stimulant Treatment: Establish, improve, or expand evidence based stimulant treatment programs for individuals with polysubstance use. This may include, but is not limited to, training providers to address stimulant misuse, implementing contingency management, etc. Tier 2 -Supportive Services – Supportive Social Services: Establish and/or enhance coordination with supportive social services to ensure that rural individuals and families impacted by SUD have the greatest opportunity possible for sustained, long-term recovery. Examples include: Working with local transportation resources to provide free transport to SUD treatment appointments and recovery services. Coordinating with childcare providers to offer childcare for parents and caregivers, so that they can attend treatment appointments. Tier 2 – Supportive Services – Employment and Life Skills: Provide employment and/or life skills training for individuals in recovery and connections to meaningful job opportunities. Tier 2 – Special Populations – Youth Prevention: Develop youth-specific SUD prevention programming such as: implementing evidence-based prevention curriculums in schools, or establishing afterschool programs etc. Population Groups: The target population is entirely comprised of individuals in the five-county area that are at-risk for SUD including OUD and stimulant misuse; individuals diagnosed with SUD; individuals in treatment and/or recovery for SUD; their families and/or caregivers; and impacted community members who reside in the rural target service area of Camden, Laclede, Miller, Morgan, and Lafayette counties in central Missouri.
