Stanislaus County Community Assessment, Response, and Engagement (CARE)

Continuation funding from the BJA FY 2023 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-based Program (COSSUP) will enable Stanislaus County,
California to expand and enhance comprehensive programs to identify, respond to, treat, and
support those impacted by the overdose crisis and the impacts of used and misuse of opioids,
stimulants, or other substances. Lead agency for the project is County of Stanislaus, a unit of
local government in California. Project partners are Stanislaus County Behavioral Health &
Recovery Services, Center for Human Services and Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.
County of Stanislaus is applying under Category 1, Subcategory 1a, as the county’s population is over 500,000. The project goal is to reduce the impact of the use and misuse of opioids,
stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, as well as to mitigate the
impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives. This will be
accomplished by embedding COAP-funded staff with the current Community Assessment,
Response, and Engagement (CARE) Multidisciplinary Team (Evidence-based practice) colocated
in Modesto, California. The project objectives are to support comprehensive, locally
driven response to the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances that expand
access to treatment and recovery support services; support law enforcement-led deflection
programs; and promote education and prevention activities. This will be accomplished by
implementing a multidisciplinary overdose prevention, response, and deflection/diversion model
led by law enforcement (CARE MDT); providing evidence-based SUD treatment such as
Motivational Interviewing as well as harm reduction activities, including educating users on the
proper use of Naloxone; and providing access to transitional/recovery housing and recovery
support services. The project deliverables are to maintain a working relationship with the BJA supported COSSUP training and TA providers and to establish/maintain a multidisciplinary
coordinating body that focused on addressing the issues that arise due to the use and misuse of
opioids, stimulants, and other substances. The multidisciplinary coordinating body will be the
CARE MDT, who will also collaborate closely with the Stanislaus County Opioid Safety
Coalition. The $1,600 000 funding request for the project period beginning October 1, 2023 and
ending September 30, 2026 will support: (1) Personnel costs; (2) Travel costs for BJA-required
training and convening; (3) Program Supplies; (4) Recovery Housing; (5) Emergency Housing
Vouchers. The proposed service area is Stanislaus County, California including all towns and
rural hamlets. The target population served by this grant will be primarily homeless individuals
impacted by the overdose crisis in Stanislaus County.