Partnerships for success: community nexus: cultivating bonds to fortify substance misuse prevention initiatives - farnham, INC, and community partners will implement community nexus: cultivating bonds…

Partnerships for success: community nexus: cultivating bonds to fortify substance misuse prevention initiatives - farnham, INC, and community partners will implement community nexus: cultivating bonds to fortify substance misuse prevention initiatives in oswego county, NY, serving those aged 60 and older and those with intellectual & developmental disabilities (ID/DD) by enhancing the prevention capabilities of providers and community prevention services to better serve two underserved populations in oswego county. The populations of focus on this project - those aged 60 and older and those with ID/DD- are underserved populations significantly affected by substance use disorder (SUD), who are at risk of or already diagnosed with SUD and CO-occurring disorders (COD), specifically tobacco use, electronic cigarette use, and opioid use disorder. The clinical characteristics highlighted in the oswego county community health assessment (2022) show that adult smoking contributes to elevated premature death rates and that smoking rates in oswego county surpass the state average, with 22% of adults identified as smokers. The assessment highlights a 14.8% disability rate in oswego county, slightly exceeding the state average. COD is a notable concern, with samhsa reporting that around 9.2 million U.S adults with COD. Adults aged 60 and above face vulnerability to substance and prescription misuse. The center for disease control (2023) indicated about 1 in 5 (18.5%) U.S. Adults who have disabilities smokes cigarettes compared with 10.9% of adults without disabilities. Farnham & the oswego county prevention coalition (OCPC) will employ various strategies and interventions, combining their prevention expertise to partner with population experts to serve the target population, involving arise and the oswego county office for the aging. The project adopts a comprehensive approach, including the delivery of evidenced-based programming -wellness initiative for senior education (WISE) and contingency management. The farnham training institute will organize specialized continuing education unit (CEU) COD coursework for social work, casac, and mental health counselors and will extend community-based training to the targeted population and their families, addressing topics such as substance use, prescription misuse, and safe medication disposal. Dyads consisting of arise advocates & farnham's care coordination specialist will facilitate community-based prevention services within the ID/DD population. Additional elements include social media campaigns, the establishment of a prevention advisory committee, and the implementation of strategic prevention framework environmental strategies. Project goals: goal 1: broaden and fortify the capacity of community providers to mitigate substance misuse and its associated issues goal 2: increase the number of people in the target population receiving prevention ebps. Goal 3: reduce medication theft and prescription misuse goal 4: increase professional development and community-based training. Measurable objectives: 1) 100% of individuals with tobacco use disorder referred for CM 2) increase OCPC member capacity by 15% population of focus membership 3) increase community knowledge of older adult substance use signs and symptoms 4) enhance workforce by offering ceus for social work, casac, and mental health counselors 5) decrease medication theft in vulnerable populations through deterra bag distribution 6) install drug-disposal dropboxes that are accessible to individuals over 60. Number of people served: this project will serve a range of 175 to 250 individuals annually and 1,125 unduplicated individuals in 5 years.