Delaware Statewide COSSAP

The Executive Office of the Governor of Delaware – Criminal Justice Council is applying for a COSSAP Category 2: Statewide Implementation Project in the amount of $4,448,715. The Delaware COSSAP Saving Lives will implement new opioid-intervention programs in six geographically diverse localities and establish pre-arrest or post-arrest law enforcement diversion programs for individuals who commit non-violent, drug-related offenses by utilizing community-based substance use disorder and behavioral health services. This project coordinates services statewide.  New sites with high overdose rates targeted: 1. Wilmington (85,287), 2. Elsmere (38,457), 3. New Castle City (59,664), 4. Bear (40,173), 5. Milford (20,743), and 6. Rehoboth (13,739). Two geographic locations are in rural parts of the state. Grant funds will implement strategies identified in the statewide coordinated plan to provide law enforcement resources to address the opioid epidemic in Delaware (38% of funds). Funds will include coordinating social services with law enforcement for response to children impacted during a drug overdose (10% of funds). Funds will expand the take-back program for unused controlled substances found in the home, hospitals, and long-term care facilities (2% of funds). Project goals: 1. Increase number of law enforcement diversion programs; 2. Reduce incidence of overdose deaths; 3. Increase transitional housing availability (20% of funds); 4. Increase services to youth impacted by addiction; 5. Produce an evaluation report. Deliverables: 1) Hire project coordinator within 60 days of award; 2) Fund 6 law enforcement diversion projects including hiring 6 case managers within 9 months of award; a. case managers will receive 450 referrals a year; b. provide direct case management services for 250 individuals a year; 3) 607 Transitional housing opportunities will be provided for individuals. 4) Decrease number fatal and non-fatal overdoses within the proposed regions by 25%, by September 2025. 5) A 25% decrease in participant criminal activity. Project includes partnerships between CJC, Division of Public Health’s Office of Health Crisis Response, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, and Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police. Delaware is disproportionately impacted by the abuse of illicit opioids and prescription drugs as seen in our high rates of overdose deaths from heroin and other opioids and lack of accessibility to treatment providers and facilities. Delaware is third in the nation for rates of overdose fatalities. In 2021, 515 Delawareans died from a drug overdose. Dr. Dan O’Connell from the University of Delaware serves as the evaluator for the project.