Ross Health District Receives $1 Million Grant To Battle Substance Abuse

Article Presented By McDonald’s

(Chillicothe) –The Ross County Health District is a grateful recipient of a $1,000,000 grant awarded by the Department of Justice and COSSAP (Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program). Drug overdoses in Ross County have steadily increased with 2021 being the worst year on record for unintentional drug overdoses. The award period for the grant is October 2022 through September 2025.

The grant will focus on 3 main objectives: broadening data collection to inform community responses to emerging drug threats, expanding peer recovery support services, and enhancing and expansion of K-12 drug prevention education programs.

Substance abuse peer recovery support services will be expanded through a subaward with the Ross County Community Action Commission. This objective includes expanding the network of peer recovery supporters with a focus on connecting peers with individuals while in treatment and using peer supporters to guide individuals into a life of recovery. Peer supporters can help individuals stay on course by guiding them through treatment and recovery and tracking their progress over periods of 30, 60, and 90 days. Long term recovery is much more likely if an individual remains in recovery for more than 90 days.

The grant will also fund two new full-time RCHD positions. A Project/Data Coordinator will collaborate with key community partners to enhance drug overdose surveillance, overdose fatality reviews, peer recovery support services, and quick response team outreach with an emphasis on building program evaluation processes. A Health Educator will work closely with community programs, local law enforcement, and schools to expand community drug prevention education.

The $1,000,000 total project award will be released incrementally to RCHD over the 3 year grant period. This funding will be used for eligible activities including: 60% being allocated to Peer Recovery Support Services; 20% to Real-Time Data Collection; 20% to Education and Prevention Programs to connect law enforcement agencies with K-12 students. This project will greatly impact Ross County’s 76,666 population (U.S. Census 2019 est.).