Friday, December 1, 2023
12/1/2023
Overview and Target Population: Zepf Center, in partnership with Health Partners of Western Ohio (HPWO; a federally qualified health center), Mercy Health: St. Vincent Medical Center and St. Charles, The University of Toledo Medical Center’s Ryan White Program, and Alvis present the MATTER Project, targeting 100 unduplicated individuals in need of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in Year One; 580 individuals over the five-year grant period. Clinical and Demographic Considerations: Ohio is still in the midst of an opioid epidemic, rising rates of suicide, and like everywhere else, is still battling through COVID-19. Ohio is grappling with the fourth highest overdose death rate in the United States (Ohio Dept. of Health, April 2018), and Lucas County is in the second-highest tier with 24.1 deaths per 100,000 people. Health is affected by bio-psycho-social factors, including poverty, chronic disease, environmental stress, acute crisis, and access to care. Income inequality may further perpetuate or exacerbate health disparities. The nature of the problem as it relates to access to MAT continues to be related to poverty levels, continued stigma surrounding substance use disorder and mental health disorder treatment, little to no insurance coverage for the target population, and low education levels which are barriers to needed services for residents in the catchment area. Experience with providing MAT: Zepf Center offers Methadone, Sublocade, Vivitrol, Subutex, and Zubsolv as forms of MAT through its OTP program. This expansion will create an OBOT (Office Based Opioid Treatment Program) in the Junction Neighborhood of Toledo. Zepf Center utilizes several regimens for MAT, including those that are less susceptible for diversion. Zepf employs strict oversight practices of all medications to minimize diversion. Project Goals and Objectives: The goal of The MATTER Project is to expand access to MAT services for persons with an OUD seeking or receiving MAT. Outcomes include:(1) Increase the number of individuals with OUD receiving MAT; and (2) Decrease in illicit opioid drug use and prescription opioid misuse at six-month follow-up. Objective 1: 50% of program participants receiving MAT will complete their assigned level of care (e.g. IOP or OP), per recommendations from the clinical assessment. Objective 2: 50% program participants will who complete treatment will report no illicit opiate use at their six- month follow up. Objective 3: 10% of participants who do not complete treatment will report no illicit opiate use at their six-month follow up. Objective 4: 60% of participants will work with a peer support specialist, recovery coach or sponsor to assist them with maintaining their recovery; Objective 5: 90% of eligible participants will enroll in benefits and improve their resources; Objective 6: 75% of participants will report improvement in mental health symptoms and MH recovery. Objective 7: 50% of participants who express a need for recovery housing (RH) will be linked within 30 days of admission to treatment.
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).
