Catawba County North Carolina COSSAP

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 purpose of the project is to expand the current Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program by offering additional financial support along with a peer support staff in order to serve the growing referral pool. Second, funds will be used to further develop an existing jail services program to include a more robust pretrial diversion program. Finally, funds will be used to implement a new transitional, reentry housing program to be utilized by both LEAD and jail services. This project serves Catawba County, North Carolina, with a population of 150,000 people. The project includes partnerships between the Cognitive Connection and First at Blue Ridge. Catawba Valley Behavioral Health has existing relationships with the local sheriff’s department, five local police departments and the Districts Attorney’s Office through the LEAD program.

CA/NCF