Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program

The Erie County Health Department proposes to expand harm reduction services to combat the opioid epidemic in the defined service area of Erie County, Ohio. The Erie County Pathways project will focus on providing enhanced care to law enforcement/first responders dealing with behavioral or mental health issues, and youths through school programming. ECHD is applying for Category 1c – Local or Tribal Applicants, with OJP Priority Consideration 1A. Evidence for the priority consideration designation can be found on pages 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Project Narrative.

ECHD has identified five primary objectives for this project. These objectives include 1) developing a pathway through which law enforcement and first responders can access behavioral and mental health care and services in a secure manner; 2) enhancement of Erie County drug take-back programs by securely collecting opioids and other illicit substances for disposal during twice-yearly destruction events; 3) partnering with Erie County school districts to expand prevention programs for adolescents; 4) coordinating enhanced discharge and/or release support services for individuals exiting the Erie County Detoxification Unit; 5) coordinate integrated care plans for family members/caregivers of individuals receiving or exiting treatment at Erie County Detoxification Unit. These objectives will incorporate the following Allowable Uses/Activities:

Planned Activities

Select All That Apply

Percent of Budget

Drug take-back programs

P

10%

Law Enforcement/First Responder Program

P

20%

Real-time Data Collection

P

10%

Naloxone for law enforcement/first responders

P

20%

Education/prevention programming connecting law enforcement and schools

P

20%

Pre-booking/post-booking treatment

Court programming

Evidence-based SUD treatment, harm reduction, recovery support services

P

10%

Transitional/Recovery housing

Embedding social workers/peers with Sequential Intercept Model

Field-initiated projects connecting behavioral health/public health practitioners

P

10%

The target service area for this project is Erie County, Ohio, with a population of about 74,000 individuals. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 86.7% of the population is Caucasian, 8.9% is Black/African American, 4.5% is Hispanic, and 3.3% identify as two or more races. Erie County is designated a Health Professional Shortage Area for Primary and Dental Health Care and has been designated as a High Needs Geographical area for Mental Health Care. The three-year project will develop, implement, and coordinate AOD prevention/treatment/recovery care to strengthen and expand access to treatment and recovery for those struggling with addiction. ECHD operates the Erie County Community Health Center through which integrated health care plans will be developed for individuals struggling with SUD/OUD as well as family members/caregivers.