Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Overdose Response - MT Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Overdose Response 2025 The mission of the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division (BHDD) of MT DPHHS) is to implement and improve a statewide system of prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation for Montanans with mental disorders or addictions to drugs or alcohol. By teaming up with behavioral health specialists throughout Montana, BHDD provides substance abuse and adult mental health services for those in need of support. As nearly all of Montana is considered rural, most services provided in this great state fall under the purpose of the RCORP – Overdose Response grant. RCOPR’s purpose to support improving health care in rural areas by addressing their immediate and short-term needs related to the provision of substance use disorder services is a great match to BHDD. RCORP-Overdose Response aims to reduce and prevent the risk of overdoses in rural areas. To support implementation of overdose prevention activities, RCORP funding will be used to purchase naloxone, fentanyl test strips or other evidence-based tertiary prevention supplies and distribute them within the target rural service area through the regional OENDP hubs. BHDD has utilized SOR funding to act as the clearinghouse, establishing the regional OENDP spokes to provide evidence-based community prevention and education services to key community sectors related to opioid and stimulant use disorders. Regional OENDPs were developed in counties identified in the needs assessment as lacking naloxone saturation and/or experiencing high rates of overdoses. BHDD’s ability to execute the proposed work plan, including completing any proposed procurement of equipment or supplies within the period of performance will be seamless, since the regional OENDP’s have been predetermined and are already providing services, the ability to start the RCORP project on time is extremely likely. Each region is already in contact with their counties target rural service area, engaging the determined goals and objectives will be continuous as we will not need to procure a new contract or services to implement. Each OENDP Region includes rural counties and areas within their boundaries. This will ensure that that the target rural service area is engaged and participating throughout the project as this service is and will continue to be completed within the current scope in correlation to the State Opioid Response Grant’s (SOR) OENDP contracts. The OENDP pilot project was extremely successful with our SOR III funding cycle (September 29, 2023 – September 30, 2024). We had very positive outcomes including conducting outreach to each county and tribe within the region, providing education, communication and resources across each region. BHDD also contracts with Best Practice Medicine to provide Master Trainer courses and education across all 56 counties in Montana. The collaboration has continued and expanded to include mental health first aid training to all regions. This partnership and established OENDP hubs will certify BHDD’s capacity to ensure that the target rural service area is engaged and participating throughout the project. Due to the unique advantage of having current contracts with our regional OENDPs, that will span the length of the RCOPR grant, we are full confident that we will be able to fully implement, execute, and complete our goals of the project.
