Kittitas County COSSAP 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.

This project will serve inmates at the Kittitas County Jail in Ellensburg, Washington, including both Kittitas County residents and inmates from detention facilities across the state. As of July 2019, Kittitas County has an estimated population of 47,935. This project will expand and enhance evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT), as well as recovery support services within the Kittitas County Jail. The program is designed to implement screening, staff training, delivery onsite services, such as intake, induction, dosing, care coordination, and post-release coordination. Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office will seek a MAT partner organization that is committed to bringing MAT services to Ellensburg and consists of medical providers carrying certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The potential MAT partner organization will also need to employ social workers, caseworkers, and mental health practitioners.

CA/NCF