New Beginnings Community Resource Center

The Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COAP’s 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 1 is to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to the opioid epidemic that expand access to supervision, treatment, and recovery support services across the criminal justice system; support law enforcement and other first responder diversion programs for non-violent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by the opioid epidemic. All projects are expected to involve multiple agencies and partners.

The North Chicago Police Department will establish the New Beginnings Community Resource Center that is accessible 24 hours a day to North Chicago residents (population of 32,574) and the Lake County citizenry (population of 703,520). This community resource center will be staffed by licensed social workers, substance abuse clinicians, and a crime data analyst. The licensed social workers will specialize in the following areas: drug counseling, victim’s assistance, opioid addiction services, nonprofit charities, career training, and immigration support. The resource center will provide information for the following: drug rehabilitation services, fact sheets on opioid addictions, drug use safety, support groups, counseling programs, career training and financial assistance, schedules of public transportation, childcare assistance, and job placement. This community gathering place will also assist victims of domestic violence, violent crimes, and human trafficking and financially needy families. As such, planting a community development center inside of the police department will immediately reduce drug-related crimes within the City of North Chicago.

CA/NCF