Project Grant H79TI085155

TARGETED CAPACITY EXPANSION: SPECIAL PROJECTS - ATLANTA HARM REDUCTION COALITION, INC., (AHRC) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ODYSSEY FAMILY COUNSELING CENTER (OFCC) IS REQUESTING FUNDING TO SUPPORT ITS SUBSTANCE USE (SU), CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD), HARM REDUCTION, AND HIV/VH/STI SERVICES TO HELP REDUCE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SU, COD, OVERDOSE AND HIV/VH/STI BY DELIVERING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP MENTAL HEALTH AND SU COUNSELING, SU AND SEXUAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS, OUTPATIENT SU TREATMENT SERVICES, PEER SUPPORT, LINKAGE TO ESSENTIAL, SUPPORTIVE, AND MEDICAL SERVICES INCLUDING TELEHEALTH, HIV/VH/STI SCREENING AND TREATMENT, MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT), SYRINGE SERVICES INCLUDING NARCAN AND FENTANYL TEST STRIP DISTRIBUTION, JOB READINESS TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION TO AT-RISK AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN AGES 18-44 AND PARTNERS IN SOUTHWEST ATLANTA. TOWARD THESE ENDS, THE SEVEN MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. BY 9/29/2023, AHRC WILL TRAIN 2 PEER SUPPORT WORKERS WITHIN THE POPULATION OF FOCUS TO DELIVER HARM REDUCTION AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES TO POPULATION OF FOCUS. 2. BY 9/29/2023, AHRC AND OFCC WILL INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTION SKILLS OF AT-RISK AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN AGES 18-44 AND PARTNERS WITHIN THE CATCHMENT AREA BY PROVIDING MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, MATRIX MODEL, STRENGTHEN BASED CASE MANAGEMENT, CLEAR, PROMISE, AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE TO AT LEAST 75 MEMBERS OF POPULATION OF FOCUS. 3. BY 9/29/2023, AHRC AND OFCC WILL INCREASE AWARENESS OF SU AND COD TREATMENT, HARM REDUCTION, RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES AND ANTI-STIGMA CAMPAIGNS THROUGH STRATEGIC MEDIA CAMPAIGNS TO REACH AT LEAST 2500 MEMBERS OF POPULATION OF FOCUS PER ANNUM. 4. BY 9/29/2023, AHRC WILL INCREASE SU, COD, AND HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION AND SERVICES BY CONDUCTING OUTREACH, SYRINGE EXCHANGE, NARCAN, FENTANYL TEST STRIPS, SAFETY DRUG USING AND CONDOM KITS, IMMUNIZATION, AND LINKAGE TO ESSENTIAL, SUPPORTIVE, AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO AT LEAST 150 MEMBERS OF POPULATION OF FOCUS PER ANNUM. 5. BY 9/29/2023, AHRC WILL INCREASE ACCESS OF HIV/VH/STI TREATMENT SERVICES, PREP/NPEP, AND LOW THRESHOLD MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR 40 MEMBERS OF POPULATION OF FOCUS. 6. BY 9/29/2023, OFCC WILL INCREASE ACCESS OF OUTPATIENT SU AND COD FOR 20 MEMBERS OF POPULATION OF FOCUS. 7. BY 9/29/2023, AHRC WILL PROVIDE JOB READINESS TRAINING AND LINKAGE TO EMPLOYMENT THROUGH FIRST STEP STAFFING AND TO 20 MEMBERS OF POPULATION OF FOCUS. OUR MAIN TARGET POPULATION ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN AGES 18-44 AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY BEEN THE MOST DISCONNECTED FROM SERVICES AND THE HARDEST TO REACH, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO USE/INJECT DRUGS, LGBTQ, RACIAL/ETHNIC MINORITY, AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS. BY FULLY INTEGRATING OUR SERVICES, OUR PROGRAM WILL REACH AND ASSIST POPULATIONS THAT HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS OF TRADITIONAL FRAGMENTED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, THEREBY INCREASING SYSTEM CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY PREVENT HIV/VH/STI, SU, COD, AND OVERDOSE AND PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO CARE.