The Copper River Native Association (CRNA) is spearheading the Opioid Response Project, a comprehensive five-year initiative designed to combat opioid use disorder (OUD) in the Copper River Region, Alaska. This project is meticulously planned to bolster OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services, leveraging culturally sensitive and evidence-based approaches across three main goals.
Firstly, the project aims to improve community awareness and engagement regarding OUD through the execution of specific objectives like conducting monthly community events, implementing school-based awareness programs, and driving social media campaigns to extend reach and impact. Secondly, it focuses on expanding access to treatment by deploying mobile health units for remote areas, introducing tele-therapy services, and integrating traditional healing practices into Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services. The target is to significantly increase the number of individuals accessing these enhanced services annually.
Thirdly, the project intends to foster recovery and community healing by establishing peer support networks and facilitating community training sessions on overdose prevention, aiming to train 150 community members by the end of the fifth year. Each year, objectives will scale up to widen the scope of service delivery and incorporate culturally appropriate care, aiming to integrate MAT services for a broader impact.
The initiative will utilize NewOrg software for effective data management, ensuring precise and secure collection and analysis of project data. Additionally, Community Centered Consulting (CCC) will provide third-party evaluation services to ensure the project adheres to evidence-based practices and maintains high standards of accountability. With CRNA’s extensive experience in providing integrated health services, this project is poised to make a significant impact on public health within the region, directly addressing the needs and challenges of its community members.