Proposal abstract the johnson county opioid response effort (jcore), through the johnson county sheriff's office, centers on teaming peer specialists with specialty investigators so that behavioral…

The County of Johnson in Clarksville, Arkansas will receive $999,981 from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and other Substances Use Program (COSSUP) federal grant to implement the Johnson County Opioid Response Effort (JCORE) from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.

JCORE aims to connect individuals struggling with substance use disorders to behavioral health resources and treatment alternatives to incarceration through a team approach pairing peer specialists with law enforcement investigators. Peer specialists will respond with investigators to overdose and drug incident calls to engage individuals in recovery services immediately following a "golden moment" when receptivity to help is highest. The peer-investigator teams also aim to reduce stigma among law enforcement. Approximately 100% of the grant funding will support salaries for the investigator positions embedded as part of JCORE's sequential intercept model implementation.

Proposal abstract the johnson county opioid response effort (jcore), through the johnson county sheriff's office, centers on teaming peer specialists with specialty investigators so that behavioral health resources can be implemented during the timeframe when individuals are most receptive to help. This "golden moment" falls immediately after overdose or investigation and possible arrest. By pairing services with investigation, diversion to drug courts, treatment, and other transitional services moves the individual into a more positive path to recovery instead of the traditional method of incarceration only. Utilizing two teams of peer and investigator allows for round the clock coverage without creating stress of continuous coverage on one team which results in burnout. Peer specialists respond to police calls for drug-related incidents and follow the individual through medical care and incarceration as necessary. This places the peer specialist in a position to engage family and friends to elicit support. Peer specialists can use their lived experience to help the individual see the benefits of life change. This approach has proven that individuals are more inclined to assist in investigations and the team approach has reduced stigma among law enforcement. Peer specialists also provide training and distribution of naloxone to the support systems of individuals. Classes and support groups conducted within the jail identifies individuals incarcerated for other charges who are also struggling with substance use disorders. After identification, those individuals can be moved toward treatment options and recovery. This results in decreased jail population and lowered recidivism. Jcore will utilize participation in drug takeback programs, law enforcement diversion, naloxone for law enforcement, and treatment alternatives to incarceration. The primary use of the funds will center on embedding peer specialists at various points in the sequential intercept model which makes IT a labor-intensive program. Planned activities/allowable uses the abstract should include specific language that indicates which of the allowable uses/activities under category, as listed below, the project address along with its approximated percent of the budget. Planned activities/allowable uses select all that apply percent of budget drug take-back programs x 1 percent of budget law enforcement and first responder deflection and diversion x 100 percent of investigators salaries real-time data collection