This project will increase and broaden access to effective peer recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorder and CO-occurring disorders. - project name: vegas stronger's peer…

This project will increase and broaden access to effective peer recovery support services to individuals with substance use disorder and CO-occurring disorders. - project name: vegas stronger's peer support initiative summary and demographics: vegas stronger, a nonprofit serving the LAS vegas valley, will broaden access to peer recovery support services to (PRSS) individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) or CO-occurring substance use disorder and mental disorders (COD) with a focus on spanish-speaking adults. This will be achieved by hiring staff and implementing a program designed to provide PRSS including one-on-one and group services. Help hope home's 2023 point-in-time results showed 6,566 people were experiencing homelessness in southern nevada. The survey revealed that 64% of the homeless population self-reported a disabling condition, and of those, 25% cited substance abuse and 29% cited mental health. There are three ZIP codes in the service area with a significant demand for services. Vegas stronger is located in ZIP code 89101 and focuses on this ZIP code as well as the two adjacent ZIP codes, 89106 and 89030. This area contains a 57% hispanic population and 49.85% spanish-speaking households. Goals: #1 - increase capacity for peer recovery support services by expanding evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate services. #2 enhance cultural competency within the program to address the diverse needs of underserved populations. #3 assist with health insurance, poverty, unemployment, and lack of education by offering support systems. #4 reduce overdose deaths, ED visits, and hospitalizations by distributing and providing training for fentanyl test strips and naloxone. Strategies: • hire, train, and deploy three (3) peer specialists (one bilingual PS fluent in spanish and english). • provide peer support services. • provide individual and group peer support to clients suffering from SUD/COD. • conduct consistent and supportive outreach to inform the community about the program. • increase access to care for spanish-speaking populations by disseminating spanish-language materials. • distribute naloxone and fentanyl test strips to the community. Population and number to be served: focus population includes spanish-speaking adults and people experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of being homeless with SUD or COD. One hundred and eighty (180) clients will be served in the first year. Two hundred and forty (240) will be served in subsequent years for a total of six hundred and sixty (660) individuals. By the end of the three-year period, access to PRSS for individuals with SUD or COD will be dramatically increased.