Sunday, December 22, 2024
12/22/2024
In relationship to Ninilchik Traditional Council’s (NTC) ongoing mission to promote access to health and education resources, the NTC Community Clinic has been providing Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) since 2014. Together, with our partners, we have been able to provide medication and behavioral therapies to individuals experiencing Substance Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, and mental illness (below the threshold of severe mental illness) throughout the Southern Kenai Peninsula. With $500,000 in Emergency COVID-19 funding, NTC will enhance and expand our telehealth capacity and ensure that recovery services are available to all individuals in the above-described client population based on diagnosis, need, risk of relapse, and assessment recommendations. According to the Center for Disease Control, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula has the highest rate in Alaska per capita of opioid prescriptions, which are higher in primarily white, rural communities with high unemployment rates. The majority of our current clients are white and Native Alaskan; male and female clients are nearly equal in representation. With the service delivery improvement and expansion made possible by this award, we anticipate that we will be able support an additional 75 impacted individuals in our service area per year and enroll 100 new clients over this project period. With Targeted Capacity Expansion funding for MAT, NTC will enhance their current addictions program to: 1) Increase access to medical and behavioral health treatments for those experiencing SUD, OUD, and mental illness through the expansion of telehealth: a. 70% of direct service funding to provide direct services to those with SUDs b. 10% of direct service funding for healthcare practitioners with mental disorders (less severe than SMI) requiring mental health care as a result of COVID-91 c. 20% of direct service funding to be used for all other individuals with mental disorders less severe than SMI 2) Mitigate risk of diversion with the transition to the Sublocade injection and Directly Observed Therapy (via emocha) for patients using Suboxone strips 3) Implement remote Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) monitoring through the purchase of Soberlink devices 4) Acquire Bridge Devices for opioid withdrawal to minimize utilization of Emergency Departments 5) Increase service access for remote villages with no access to the road system
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).