The ohio QRT association will be a centralized infrastructure for multiple forms of community outreach

Additional support will allow the OQA to hold a statewide training conference, which will promote networking across rural and urban communities, as well as access to experts in the field of quick response and overdose response teams. Ohio is leading the charge with regards to changing the way society looks at substance use and mental health disorder(s). Federal support would allow the ohio QRT association to provide a collaborative and systemic community response to prevent drug overdose, creating a more robust center of excellence will continue to push these efforts forward and establish a pathway for other states and communities looking to transition to diversion and deflection strategies. Thefounders of the ohio QRT association have been working to create this center of excellence around QRT and outreach focusing on cross collaboration among multiple agencies in the public health sector with great success. Ohio is leading the nation in 'deflection and pre-arrest diversion' and are establishing a relationship with the national organization, police treatment community collaborative (ptacc). The goal is to partner with ptacc to create the first state led ptacc program through the ohio QRT association. If all goes as anticipated, IT will create ongoing funding to sustain the ohio QRT association and staff.