Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) proposes to expand Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) service provision at two of its Eastern Nebraska clinics. Its target population is Nebraska adults suffering from Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) including those already receiving substance use evaluations or treatment from LFS. LFS will place emphases on reaching and serving justice-involved adults suffering from OUD, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) funded clients, and clients referred by LFS primary care partner, Bluestem Health, an experienced provider and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Nebraska overdose deaths jumped nearly 43% in 2020 (CDC, 2020). Nebraska is ranked the #9 state where overdose deaths increased the most during COVID-19. Drug overdose deaths (March 2020–March 2021): 214 (+44.6% change from March 2019–2020)
Lutheran Family Services developed 7 measurable objectives aligned with the Required Activities and formulated a comprehensive and cohesive five-year action plan to achieve the program's goals:
Goal 1: Program Implementation Fidelity. Provide Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) services using one of the FDA-approved medications (buprenorphine products and/or long-acting injectable naltrexone) to treat OUD combined with comprehensive OUD psychosocial services and a team-based care approach.
Goal 2. Client Outcomes. Reduce illicit use of opioid drugs and improve outcomes for individuals receiving MOUD services at six-month follow-up.
Goal 3. Outreach and Engagement. Develop and implement outreach and engagement strategies to increase access to MOUD and related services for diverse populations with OUD.
Using well-known EBPs shown to be effective for opioid use disorder (OUD), Lutheran Family Services will serve 1,775 unduplicated individuals through screening as well as 550 engaged in MOUD treatment and care and 2,000 served through outreach events over the five-year project period. The EBPs are Motivational Interviewing (MI), Brief Motivational Interventions (BI), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).