Thursday, January 2, 2025
1/2/2025
Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is a division of Lakeview Center Inc. (LCI) in Escambia County FL, an organization with over 68 years of demonstrated experience providing behavioral health services to local communities. LCI proposes to build capacity for overdose and infectious disease prevention services to the populations of focus in Escambia County, FL. Over the 3-year period the proposed OPUS (Overdose Prevention & Underlying Services) Program, will extend the provision of evidence-based practices (i.e., OD prevention education, Distribution of Naloxone and Fentanyl testing strips, Mobile outreach to persons at high risk for overdose, Tracking overdose outbreaks to best target outreach services and Marketing/social media awareness campaigns) and provide rapid HIV/HCV testing and brief intervention services. The populations of focus (POF) for the project are: Racial/ethnic minorities; LGBTQ+ persons and Rural residents of all gender identities. These persons will account for 55% of the target population of the project. During the funding period (3 years): Overdose Prevention Education will be provided to 1,800 persons (600 annually). Further, Mobile Street Outreach (including: Rapid HIV/HCV Testing, Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strip distribution and Brief Intervention services) will be provided to 1,440 persons (480 annually). LCI has extensive experience in the provision of culturally relevant behavioral interventions with a demonstrated history of effectiveness. Heroin and other Opioid overdose intakes increased in Escambia County from 453 in 2020 to 636 in 2021 (a 40% increase). [Baptist Healthcare] Though these numbers might seem minimal compared to metro areas, it is a significant increase for an area of just over 300K population. Further, the Escambia County EMS Dashboard reports 41 on-scene overdoses this week (1/31/22) versus 33 on-scene overdoses for the previous week. Though this number fluctuates from week to week, it has shown an overall increase over the past several years, even more so since the onset of COVID-19. The OPUS Program will deliver culturally relevant interventions which: Promote overdose risk reduction techniques; Increase access to rapid HIV/HCV testing services; Expand knowledge of the dangers of Fentanyl laced illicit drugs; Increase the availability of Naloxone and Fentanyl test strips; Increase linkage and referral services to SUD/MAT treatment programs; and Decrease the stigma attached to IDU use in the target area. The evaluator for this project will be Dr. Susan Walch (University of West FL), who has over 25 years of experience in programmatic assessment and evaluation. Dr. Walch is a professor of abnormal psychology, health psychology and behavior modification. She is a clinical psychologist specializing in psycho-oncology, cognitive-behavioral therapies and women’s health (among others). She has (co)written numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on the social factors of homophobia, attitudes toward transgendered persons and managing diversity in the workplace. Supporters of her research on HIV/AIDS prevention and interventions have included: the Florida Department of Health, Southern REACH and the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), et.al.
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).