Citrus County Sheriff's Office Substance Abuse Social Worker program.

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) prides itself in being at the forefront of crime reduction and prevention techniques while operating on a limited rural county budget.  The successful crime reduction concepts are accomplished through entire agency accountability, training, and an investment from our administration and staff.  Operating as a stakeholder and holding a position on the Behavioral Health Subcommittee, Collaboration Team, and Opioid Task Force, our agency and community partners have recognized a deficiency in our community’s response to the opioid epidemic.  Receiving funding from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance would allow the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office the opportunity to develop a successful initiative to bridge these gaps in services that exist in Citrus County.  The funding will be used in the implementation of two substance abuse social workers who would provide comprehensive wrap around services and diversion from the criminal justice system to individuals suffering of opioid use disorder.     The substance abuse social workers will work hand and hand with community based partners such as Lifestream, local recovery groups, residential treatment facilities, medication assisted treatment programs, behavioral health detectives in the sheriff’s office, the State Attorney’s Office (SAO), diversion courts and other community agencies to work towards overcoming obstacles faced by an individual who suffers from opioid use disorder living in a rural community.  The initiative will accomplish three goals:         Follow-up contact and referral to services on all reported non-fatal overdoses  Educate, support and connect an individual to community based services to assist in helping that individual seek recovery  Reduce recidivism and provide diversion from the criminal justice process by providing wrap around services     Grant funding will allow the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office to have a substance abuse social worker to channel their efforts and skills to accomplish the above listed goals through adequate follow-up, linking an individual to community services and providing comprehensive wrap around services.  Having a social worker solely focused upon and dedicated towards this mission will further the agency’s commitment to reduce the number of non-fatal and fatal opioid overdoses.