Project Grant G2846305

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM ? MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH - THE STEPWORKS RECOVERY CENTERS' MOBILE PROJECT WILL SERVE ADULTS OVER 18 LIVING IN RURAL AREAS WITHIN CENTRAL KENTUCKY IN HARDIN COUNTY'S REGION. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES TO LOCATIONS IN LARUE, GRAYSON, MARION, BARREN, NELSON, AND PULASKI COUNTIES WITH A TELEHEALTH LINK FOR MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, PRIMARY CARE, MAT, AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE TREATMENT. THE PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO EXPAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES TO AREAS THAT HAVE A CRITICAL NEED AND A LACK OF SERVICE PROVIDERS. PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS ARE NOTABLY UNDERSERVED AND DISADVANTAGED. BY COLLABORATING WITH THE SYRINGE SERVICE PROGRAMS (SSPS), OTHER MAT AND ADDICTION SERVICE PROVIDERS, COUNSELING CENTERS, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THOSE CLIENTS WHO ARE FREQUENTLY MARGINALIZED OR HAVE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO CARE WILL HAVE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM OF DIMINISHED ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, HOUSELESS PERSONS, THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THOSE EXPERIENCING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER - ALL OF WHOM ARE RURAL RESIDENTS. KEY PRIMARY OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE: THE TARGETED NUMBER OF PATIENTS WILL ENGAGE WITH THERAPY SERVICES THAT SUPPLEMENT THE SERVICES THEY ARE ALREADY RECEIVING FROM PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. PATIENTS WHO NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE WILL RECEIVE REFERRALS. SCREENINGS FOR ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS AND IMPAIRMENTS IN SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WILL OCCUR ROUTINELY. SECONDARY OUTCOMES THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE: A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNDERSERVED PATIENTS IN RURAL TARGET AREAS. A DECREASE IN OVERDOSE FATALITY RATES IN TARGET AREAS. AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RURAL RESIDENTS CURED FOR HEPATITIS C (HCV) AND ENTERING TRE ATMENT FOR HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV). DATA TO BE TRACKED INCLUDES: THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED FOR OR RECEIVING SERVICES ON THE MOBILE UNIT AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF EACH. THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING COUNSELING AND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE NURSING CARE. THE NUMBER OF RAPID TESTS COMPLETED FOR HIV AND HCV. THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SUCCESSFULLY LINKED VIA TELEHEALTH TO PRIMARY CARE, MAT, AND OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES. NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE. THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS RETAINING SERVICES CONSISTENTLY OVER THREE MONTHS OR MORE. THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE MAT OR MEDICATION MANAGEMENT.