Ross County Peer Recovery Support Services, Data Collection and Youth Drug Prevention Enhancement / Expansion Project

The Ross County Peer Recovery Support Services, Data Collection and Youth Drug Prevention Enhancement / Expansion Project is a collaborative effort to enhance current community efforts for Peer Recovery Support Services, Multi-Sector data collection for Response to Emerging Drug Threats, and Youth Drug Prevention education to fight emerging drug threats in local communities in Ross County, OH. Ross County has continued to experience a steady increase in suspected drug overdoses as well as overdose fatalities with 2021 begin the worst year on record for unintentional drug overdoses and overdose fatalities.  Our community response to emerging drug threats has continued to evolve as our community has built the partnerships and collaborations needed to effectively address community issues revolved around substance use disorder and overdoses.   The project proposal is an opportunity to expand our community collaborations, enhance and expand Peer Recovery Support Services, data collection and youth drug prevention efforts around drug use and substance use disorder.

The project will focus on enhancing and expanding established Peer Recovery Support Services through a subaward project with the Ross County Community Action Commission to expand Peer Recovery Support Services to those who experience substance use disorder during treatment, post treatment and recovery with an emphasis on building additional capacity in peer recovery services data collection, evaluation, and program improvements. The Project will also employ a full-time Health Educator, who will work in conjunction with local schools, local law enforcement, and our k-12 aged population in drug prevention education efforts to fill gaps and needs with youth prevention efforts in the community  Finally, the project will employ a full-time Data / Project Coordinator with the Ross County Health District who will enhance and expand local multi sector data collection projects for drug overdose surveillance, quick response team outreach, overdose fatality reviews, and peer recovery support services with an emphasis on building program evaluation processes.   

The Ross County General Health District is applying for funding in the amount of $1,000,000.  The funding will be used for allowable activities including: 60% of the funding will be allocated to Peer Recovery Support Services; 20% of funding towards Real-Time Data Collection; and 20% of funding towards Education and Prevention Programs to connect law enforcement agencies with K-12 students.  This project will serve all of Ross County, a rural area in Southern Ohio with a population of 76,666 (U.S. Census 2019 est.).