Project Grant H79TI085597

BUILDING COMMUNITIES OF RECOVERY: COMMUNITY NETWORK OF SUPPORT - ROCKINGHAM COUNTY BRIDGING THE GAP PROGRAM GRANITE PATHWAYS' SAFE HARBOR RECOVERY CENTER (SHRC) PROVIDES PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES (PRSS) PRIMARILY TO RESIDENTS OF ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. THE STRENGTH OF THIS SMALL RCO IS AMPLIFIED THROUGH CLOSE PARTNERSHIPS WITH A BROAD BASE OF COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES THAT PRODUCE AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL AND QUALITY OF LONG-TERM RECOVERY SUPPORT. SOLIDIFYING COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS TO PROVIDE FULLY INTEGRATED RECOVERY SUPPORTS IS CRITICAL TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS TO IMMEDIATELY ASSIST INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE AND SUSTAIN RECOVERY, TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC WELLBEING, TO IMPACT THE FUTURE COURSE OF SUBSTANCE MISUSE, AND TO MITIGATE THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON CHILDREN OF LIVING WITH A PARENT WITH SUD. IN NH, THE BIGGEST GAP IN SERVICE IS ENCOUNTERED WHEN INDIVIDUALS LEAVE INTENSIVE TREATMENT OR CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS. WHILE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) IS A CHRONIC, RELAPSING DISORDER, "MUCH OF EXISTING SUD CARE REMAINS BASED IN AN ACUTE CARE MODEL THAT FOCUSES ON CLINICAL STABILIZATION AND DISCHARGE, FAILING TO ADDRESS THE LONGER-TERM NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN RECOVERY. . ." 8 WITH A TREATMENT DROPOUT RATE FROM INTENSIVE SERVICES AND OUTPATIENT CARE VARYING FROM 30 TO 60%, PRESCRIBED AFTERCARE IS NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED. VARIED, FLEXIBLE PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES CAN PLAY A KEY AND INTEGRAL ROLE IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN INTENSIVE TREATMENT AND WORKING ON RECOVERY DAY TO DAY. OUR SERVICE ARRAY IS INTENDED TO FOCUS ON DEVELOPING RECOVERY CAPITAL TO BUILD RESILIENCE AND TO ADDRESS CRITICAL SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH (SDOH) NEEDS THROUGH ASSESSMENT, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, AND TARGETED CARE COORDINATION. EXPANSION WILL ALSO INCLUDE EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION. STAFF CAPACITY WILL BE INCREASED TO PROVIDE ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH NEEDS AS AN IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENT TO FOCUSED RECOVERY SUPPORT AND TARGETED CARE COORDINATION. CAREER PLANNING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES WILL CONTINUE AS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE SERVICE ARRAY. NONETHELESS, THE NEED FOR A STRONG AND FORMAL NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PROVIDERS IS GREATER THAN EVER. IF BETTER ARTICULATED AND STRUCTURED, CURRENT INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION COULD COME CLOSER TO ACHIEVING MAXIMUM IMPACT. AN EFFECTIVE RESOURCE NETWORK WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF EACH ENTITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SUD AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS. USING RESOURCES OF THIS GRANT, WE WILL CONVENE A PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE TO BOTH OVERSEE GRANT ACTIVITIES AND TO FORMALIZE COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS. WITH A WELL-COORDINATED NETWORK, SHRC WILL BE BEST POSITIONED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN RECOVERY. OUR NETWORK CAPACITY TO OFFER A BROADER ARRAY OF SERVICES AT THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF INTENSITY TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AT EVERY STAGE OF RECOVERY WILL BE GAME-CHANGING. WE ENDORSE HARM REDUCTION FOR THOSE NOT READY TO STOP USING SUBSTANCES. THROUGH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, WE INITIALLY TRY TO SIMPLY REDUCE RISKS INDIVIDUALS FACE. THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS, WE DISTRIBUTE NARCAN, HARM REDUCTION KITS, AND PROVIDE REFERRALS FOR MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, SUD, SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HOUSING, AND FOOD RESOURCES.