Supporting Opioid Addiction Recovery (SOAR) will provide medication-assisted treatment in combination with psychosocial and recovery support services to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder. - Steppingstone Incorporated’s (SS) Supporting Opioid Addiction Recovery (SOAR) proposes to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in Greater New Bedford (NB) and surrounding rural areas to individuals diagnosed with an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), including those with a co-occurring mental health disorder. Participants will be provided with Buprenorphine and Naloxone to treat OUD. Special populations targeted by SOAR will include pregnant women, persons with CODs, re-entering offenders/ex-offenders, and veterans. MAT will be provided in combination with comprehensive psychosocial and recovery support services which promote recovery and improved functioning in other life domains.
SOAR will employ Outreach Workers who will perform weekly outreach in New Bedford and surrounding towns, working with businesses, police, hospitals, medical facilities, shelters, and community-based organizations, as well as street outreach to identify those with OUDs or at high-risk and engage them in SOAR. Through outreach and marketing efforts, SOAR will enroll and serve 300 individuals over the 3-year grant term.
Once enrolled, SOAR’s Addiction Specialist Physician, Clinical Nurse Specialist, masters-level Clinicians and Recovery Coach will provide ongoing treatment and interventions to support successful recovery and promote an improved quality of life. Participants will be evaluated to determine which type of MAT is most beneficial and the ASP and CNS will closely monitor and regularly meet with each SOAR participant to ensure effectiveness of treatment. SOAR will hold a weekly group that participants must attend and other psychosocial treatments will be available and required as appropriate for each individual. SOAR will promote tobacco cessation through education, support and assistance obtaining patches, gum and other supplies. SOAR will utilize linkage agreements with vocational and educational development providers to promote client engagement in programs that will lead to employment and self-sufficiency, housing programs to place homeless individuals in housing, obstetric and gynecologic care for pregnant and post-partum women and other services as needed. Wrap-around services such as child care and transportation will also be provided to participants.
SOAR will promote reduced substance use, abstinence and improved quality of life through implementation of evidence-based practices including Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders. Other services will include crisis care, recovery planning, independent living skills training, discharge planning, and assistance obtaining entitlements and employment.
