Upper Sioux Community Project

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 Upper Sioux Community Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-based Program (COSSAP) project will provide cross-training to law enforcement, health services, and social services staff in current and historical trauma, substance abuse, Native approaches to addiction, and other topics as identified. The program will provide training opportunities for external partners, including county personnel, agency personnel, and others as identified to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing opioid- and other drug-related issues. Also, the program will create supportive and transitional housing options for those in need, as well as policies and procedures that incorporate new activities and programs. The project will establish new systems for including identified service providers within newly established networks — including a multipronged, multidisciplinary approach to providing services by building onto newly established programs such as the community’s lasting care model program, and utilizing law enforcement, social services, health and healing, cultural, and other personnel to develop these systems. The program will develop and strengthen services, with an increased focus on supportive and treatment services, including culturally specific programming, such as the traditional healing grant program funds from the state of Minnesota.

CA/NCF