DMH-Cossap

Since 2011, the number of opioid deaths in Mississippi have risen significantly each year.  The purpose of this project is to implement peer support services or Care Coordinators in the six geographically diverse regions that are selected for the MSDH telehealth services. MSPHI contracts with and provides ongoing training for the Care Coordinators, while building pathways to resources in the communities they serve. Care Coordinators are an essential component of a comprehensive continuum of substance use services, providing critical resources that can effectively extend, enhance, and improve clinical services. Care Coordinators work in a wide range of settings, providing emotional support and mentoring, information on recovery and support services, linkage to services and prosocial activities, and assistance with tasks to support recovery. The Care Coordinator often plays a key role in establishing and maintaining social connections to support individuals’ recovery in the community. The Care Coordinators are like the emergency room on the street for those battling substance abuse. Care Coordinators help those suffering from substance use disorder & their families navigate through the system and will work with local community stakeholders to develop relationships with local law enforcement, emergency medical service providers and courts with the goal of coordinating a Quick Response Team (QRT) in the region. The QRT’s main objective is aimed to reduce opioid abuse and the number of overdose fatalities by expanding law enforcement, first responder, drug court and treatment/recovery partnerships. The QRT’s membership will vary depending on individual attitudes regarding OUD/SUD treatment. Ideally, once a QRT is established, the Care Coordinator identifies the needs of the patient and provides recovery support and other community resources to individuals and their families, EMS members conduct wellness checks, and law enforcement staff provide safety and security during the visit. The Care Coordinator will go out with a member of law enforcement and/or paramedic to visit all the past weeks overdoses, offering resources for recovery, and/or offering to take them to treatment. The main objective of the project is to get the overdose survivor into treatment, reduce barriers to treatment, and follow up with treatment providers to monitor progress.