Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2019, $6,500,000)
The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COAPs purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to plan, develop, and implement comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the opioid epidemic. The Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) has been incorporated into the FY 2019 COAP solicitation. The purpose of the Harold Rogers PDMP is to improve collaboration and strategic decision making among regulatory and law enforcement agencies and public health entities to address prescription drug and opioid abuse, save lives, and reduce crime.
COAP aims to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities, as well as to mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives. The program also supports the implementation, enhancement, and proactive use of PDMPs to support clinical decision making and prevent the abuse and diversion of controlled substances. Grantees are prohibited from using federal funds to support activities that violate the Controlled Substances Act.
The objective of Category 2 is to support states in their efforts to implement, enhance, or evaluate effective opioid-related efforts within the criminal justice system.
The West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services (DCJS) proposes three initiatives:
Expand and improve the states Handle with Care (HWC) programs initiative. The HWC initiative supports children exposed to trauma and violence though improved communication and collaboration between law enforcement, schools/child care agencies and mental health providers, and connect families, schools and communities to mental health services.
Expand and enhance the West Virginia Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. The LEAD program diverts those suspected of low-level drug and prostitution offenses away from jail and prosecution and into case management, legal coordination, and other supportive services. This aspect of the proposed project will focus heavily on the counties of Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Webster, and Wirt, which currently lack diversion programs.
Enhance and expand telehealth services for those in underserved and geographically isolated communities. Similar to the diversion aspect, the telehealth aspect of the proposed project would expand services to Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Webster, and Wirt Counties. These services will include psychiatric evaluations with treatment plan development, individual and group counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment (including Buprenorphine and Naltrexone), and peer recovery support services.
The DJCS has partnered with the West Virginia Office of Research and Strategic Planning, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau of Behavioral Health, and the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy in the implementation, monitoring, oversight, and sustainment of the proposed project.
CA/NCF