HHC Expanding Prevention and Care

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 Health and Hospital Corporation Expanding Prevention and Care project proposes a two-pronged approach. First, the project proposes the expansion of Project POINT (Planned Overdose Intervention, Naloxone, and Treatment), an opioid overdose response team located in the Eskenazi Health Department, which will add services for patients with stimulant or other substance use disorders. The second approach is the establishment of a new arm of the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) Substance Use Outreach Services, Youth Virtually, which will provide a prevention program aimed at high-risk youth facing suspension or expulsion from Indianapolis Public Schools for possessing drugs and/or drug paraphernalia on school property. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the implementation of this evidence-based online program, ensuring participation regardless of restrictions due to the virus. The project will serve Marion County (home of Indianapolis, Indiana) with a population of 964,582. The project includes partnerships between the HHC divisions of Eskenazi Health, Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, and MCPHD. Other collaborators include the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department; Indianapolis Public Schools, including the Unified Students Support Division and the Positive Supports Academy; and Indy HeartBeat, a public safety provider in Indianapolis.

CA/NCF