Rural Communities Opioid Response-Implementation - Project: Tennessee Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (TN-RCORP) Request: $1,000,000 Applicant: Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA of TN) Address: 21 N White Oak St, Decaturville, TN 38329 Type: State Rural Health Association Project Director: Jacy Warrell, Executive Director (615-907-9707, jacy@tnruralhealth.org) FY20 or FY21 Implementation Award? N EIN Exception? N Learned About: Technical Assistance Provider Consortium Members: 5 - RHA of TN, Decatur County (rural); Perry County Medical Center, Perry County (rural); Partners for Healing, Coffee County (rural); Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (JACOA); Madison County; Power of Putnam, Putnam County (rural) Prior Award? FY19 Planning II Consortium Member Target Population: TN-RCORP will serve individuals and families at risk of SUD in all 76 rural TN counties. This project includes RHA’s Apprenticeship program, building rural TN’s mental and behavioral workforce by introducing low-income and minority rural youth to careers in healthcare and removing barriers to entry. There is not a significant percentage of tribal populations in any of these counties. Target Service Area: all HRSA-designated rural counties and tracts in TN (76 counties) Overlap with FY20 or FY21 RCORP-Implementation service area? Y Implementation III Grantees (FY21): Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation (counties: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Obion, Tipton, Weakley); Middle Tennessee State University (Wilson); Servolution Health Services (Claiborne); Westcare Tennessee (Cocke, Jefferson) Since 1995, the Rural Health Association of TN (RHA) has led the way for a healthy Tennessee through partnerships, advocacy, education, and resources. Our 600+ members include primary providers, school health professionals, mental and behavioral health providers and others working to address health disparities in rural and other minority populations. For the past two years, RHA has been building capacity to better support providers and community-based organizations working to prevent and treat substance use disorder (SUD). RHA recruits, retains, and upskills healthcare professionals, utilizing apprenticeship programs and professional development stipends. In 2019, RHA also participated in an R-CORP Planning II grant as a member of the Appalachian Communities Opioid Response (ACOR) consortium. RHA learned more resource and service coordination is needed between prevention coalitions, providers, and statewide partners. Additionally, perceptions of SUD/OUD as a primarily Appalachian problem have restricted resources and focus on Middle and West TN, where there are also unmet needs and a high prevalence of SUD/OUD. Fueled by the pandemic, mental health and substance use issues are increasing, while TN’s behavioral health workforce struggles with recruitment and retention. RHA of TN requests a $1,000,000 Implementation grant to create a consortium of statewide partners who provide treatment and recovery services in rural communities. TN-RCORP will build a network of more than 200 members committed to reducing the prevalence of SUD/OUD in all 76 rural TN counties. By recruiting, retaining, and upskilling mental and behavioral health providers who work with at-risk populations we can reduce morbidity and mortality caused by SUD/OUD. At the end of the 3-year award period, TN-RCORP will be self-sustaining, ensuring lasting benefit to all rural communities in TN.
