NYS OASAS SOR 4 - the new york state (NYS) office of addiction services and supports (OASAS) will continue to fund the regional network approach to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and…

NYS OASAS SOR 4 - the new york state (NYS) office of addiction services and supports (OASAS) will continue to fund the regional network approach to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery to serve NYS residents who have an opioid use disorder (OUD) or stimulant use disorder (STUD), are at risk for developing and OUD or STUD, or are in recovery from an OUD or STUD. The regional network approach, initiated under the 2020 state opioid response grant, gave providers the opportunity to develop a regional network of care for OUD and STUD through shared knowledge, the identification of opportunities for partnership and the sharing of, or CO creation of, programs. Networks will continue to invest in regional initiatives aimed at improving data quality, promoting staff training/wellness and developing shared referral systems using technology. Network providers formalized collaborations with memorandums of understanding, built new services, and jointly pursued program funding opportunities. Within each of the 13 regional networks, providers will continue delivering services including: expanding access to medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD); linking hospital emergency departments and urgent medical care centers to peer supports, outpatient treatment programs, and addiction medicine specialists to improve intervention and initiation of MOUD; linking federally qualified health centers to outpatient treatment programs to increase patient access to MOUD and leverage resources and expertise across patient settings; integrating and supporting the peer workforce within treatment and recovery settings; delivering recovery services, including peer services, housing assistance, vocational support, non-medical transportation, and services for the children and families of those in recovery; innovative telehealth strategies in rural and underserved areas to increase the capacity of communities to support OUD/STUD treatment and recovery; operating access and support hotlines to support regional networks; providing services and supports specifically designed to meet the needs of the youth and young adult populations; partnering with existing recovery community and outreach centers and youth clubhouses; providing services and supports that target criminal legal system populations; and maintaining a justice-involved peer program to address significant challenges upon reentry into the community from the criminal legal system. Additionally, OASAS will continue to support the distribution of harm reduction supplies through opioid overdose prevention community trainings, an OASAS web-based harm reduction supply ordering portal, and harm reduction vending machines across the state. Project goals are to: enhance coordination and delivery of comprehensive prevention services through regional networks; increase the number of persons with OUD or STUD receiving treatment through peer outreach and engagement encounters; increase the capacity of the SUD providers to provide harm reduction services to people who use drugs; increase the number of persons with OUD or STUD receiving initial or RE-engagement in recovery-related services by establishing and strengthening linkages between programs; and increase the number of vulnerable persons with OUD or STUD receiving recovery-related services through expansion and enhancement of services and access. This project anticipates serving approximately 5,100 persons per year through prevention services, 22,000 per year through treatment services, and 16,200 per year through recovery services.