Fulton County COSSAP - Category 1a

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation. COSSAP’s purpose is to provide financial and technical assistance to states, units of local government, and Indian tribal governments to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants, and other drugs of abuse.

The objective of Category 1 is to encourage and support the development of comprehensive, locally driven responses to opioids, stimulants, and other substances 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 nonviolent drug offenders; promote education and prevention activities; and address the needs of children impacted by substance abuse.

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program will expand Fulton County’s comprehensive efforts to identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by substance use disorders and reduce impact on the criminal justice system. The Fulton County Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and its partners will expand pre-arrest diversion, case management, and training for law enforcement personnel to the city of Atlanta and two other jurisdictions using the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion model; provide recovery support services including transitional or recovery housing through Fulton DBHDD and its local partners; and offer evidence-based treatment including medication-assisted treatment through partner Grady Hospital. This project serves the city of Atlanta (population 498,044). The project includes partnerships between the Atlanta Fulton Pre-Arrest Diversion Initiative, Grady Hospital, Mary Hall Freedom House, Atlanta Recovery Center, Trinity Community Ministries, Sober Living of America, There’s Another Option, Highsmith Collins, Atlanta Police Department, and the Fulton County Offices of the District Attorney, Public Defender, and Solicitor General.

CA/NCF