Harm-reduction integrated care - franklin and pickaway counties in ohio continue to experience overdose deaths at disproportionate rates, and ohio has experienced a significant increase of injection…

Harm-reduction integrated care - franklin and pickaway counties in ohio continue to experience overdose deaths at disproportionate rates, and ohio has experienced a significant increase of injection drug-related infectious diseases. To address these issues and the racial inequities that are prevalent within them, primaryone health's harm reduction integrated care project will integrate enhanced screening protocols and evidence based harm reduction activities across its continuum of care. Primaryone health (P1H) values meeting its patients where they are and funding to support a comprehensive harm reduction strategy is critical next step to meet the needs of its underserved target population in central ohio. As an fqhc, P1H serves a diverse, underserved population of individuals whose social determinants of health (SDOH) cause them to be at a higher risk for SUD, infectious diseases and other health consequences. While participants will primarily be identified from P1H's health care and behavioral health system - which served 1,091 patients with an SUD diagnosis in 2021 - the organization will serve individuals at risk of or living with SUD who are self-referred and referred from partner organizations. The organization's community health centers are located within neighborhoods which are historically underserved; of the 12 health centers, 9 are located in qualified census tracts with low incomes. P1H also serves large populations of racial and ethnic minorities; of patients who reported their race in 2021 (72% of patients), 46.9% were black/african american, 11.1% were more than one race, 4.2% were asian and 1% were another non-white race. P1H will focus on the population of patients served by two sites for more intensive services due to high overdose rates and service gaps in the surrounding neighborhoods; its community health centers located as east broad street (720 east broad ST., 43215) and parsons avenue (1095 parsons AVE., 43207) in columbus, franklin county, ohio. P1H estimates that the project will serve 2,251 unduplicated patients throughout the grant period. Its goals are to 1) increase capacity and strengthen the ability to P1H to integrate effective, innovative and trauma-informed harm reduction strategies across its continuum of care; 2) reduce overdose deaths in franklin and pickaway counties by distributing harm reduction materials at all 12 health centers and at community events; and 3) improve positive health outcomes for individuals experiencing risky substance use and other related behaviors that increase the risk of infectious diseases, including HIV, HEP B and HEP C. Proposed activities to achieve these goals include: a) complete organizational planning activities to ensure harm reduction activities are informed by strengths, gaps and stakeholders; B) integrate peer recovery support services into SUD programming ; C) implement and improve processes for screening, referral and linkage for SUD, infectious diseases, other health needs and social determinates of health; D) expand P1H's naloxone distribution program; E) expand the distribution of harm reduction equipment and supplies at health centers; and F) establish a syringe services program.