Pan American Behavioral Health Harm Reduction Program (HRP) - Pan American Behavioral Health of Florida (PABH) Harm Reduction Program (HRP) Project Abstract The target population are adults and adolescents in underserved communities in Central Florida who are using or at risk of using opioids or other illicit drugs. The priority populations include substance using pregnant women, ethnic/minorities, needle injecting drug users, sex workers, GLBQT, and the homeless. Services will also target family members and at-risk youths. HRP will address the dearth in harm reduction services and health inequities by providing evidence-based harm reduction activities/services that include: trauma-informed substance use/mental health treatment with medication assisted treatment, peer outreach, broad distribution of over dose reversal medication and fentanyl testing strips, targeted distribution of medication lock boxes, referral/warm handoff to community health centers for screening/treatment for HIV and other infectious diseases; family-based case management; community health/resource fair; youth prevention activities; communication campaign that will include information on Florida’s Good Samaritan Act, provide education and awareness, and reduce stigma. Over the life of the grant HRP is proposing to provide 7,000 service encounters, 2,000 referrals to support services, and 6,000 linkages to support services. The program goals and objectives: Goal #1: To reduce substance overdose, infectious diseases, and other harmful activities in the target population through the implementation of culturally competent and trauma-informed overdose prevention and other harm reduction activities. Measurable Objectives over the life of the grant: a. Broad distribution of overdose prevention and harm reduction supplies to the targeted communities: i. 750 overdose reversal nasal spray ii. 6,000 Fentanyl/substance testing strips. iii. 300 medication lock boxes/bags, b. Twelve (12) community health fairs to provide health screenings, distribute harm reduction supplies, provide education, raise awareness, and reduce stigma c. Peer outreach services at targeted community locations to 2,500 unduplicated individuals to provide education, awareness, reduce stigma d. Distribute print/digital outreach campaign regarding The Florida Good Samaritan Act and other Harm Reduction Information to over 5,000 individuals. Goal #2: To discontinue and prevent illicit substance use, reduce substance use and infectious diseases in the target population through use of evidence-based behavioral health services, medication assisted treatment, health education, and screening/treatment for infectious diseases such as HIV, STIs, and viral hepatitis. Measurable Objectives over the life of the grant: a. Provide or refer 1,000 individuals to substance use and/or mental health services b. Provide evidence-based medication assisted treatment with Buprenorphine or Vivitrol to 225 individuals c. Provide linkages for 1,000 individuals for screening and/or treatment for HIV, STI, viral hepatitis, and other infectious disease d. Provide 2,250 Peer Navigation/family focused case-management linkages or referral services e. Provide prevention outreach services to at least 3 Title 1 Schools in each county averaging 500 students each for a total of 18 school event reaching 3,000 students
