West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission Inc

THE COMMISSION PLANS, DEVELOPS, AND ADMINISTERS LOCAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS.

FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2023, THE CASE MANAGEMENT UNIT SERVED OVER 2,000 INDIVIDUALS, MAKING REFERRALS AND PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, AS INDICATED, TO APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF CARE AT ANY ONE OF 59 CONTRACTED PROVIDERS. A TOTAL OF 367 WARM HANDOFF ENCOUNTERS WERE PROVIDED BY CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALIST STAFF AS WELL. THERE WERE 12,428 RESIDENTS SERVED THROUGH THE COMMISSION'S PREVENTION EFFORTS.

STATE ACT 152 FUNDS PROVIDE NON-HOSPITAL RESIDENTIAL DETOXIFICATION, REHABILITATION, AND HALFWAY HOUSE SERVICES TO MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.DUI REVENUE FUNDS IN LYCOMING AND CLINTON COUNTIES ARE USED FOR TREATMENT AND OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO RESPECTIVE COUNTY RESIDENTS. SCA FUNDS ARE USED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS FOR INTERVENTION, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ISSUES AND/OR FOR "AT-RISK" POPULATIONS.

STATE OPIOID RESPONSE (SOR) FUNDS WERE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF A STABLE PLACE FROM WHICH TO RECOVER. THERE WERE 310 APPLICANTS WHO BENEFITED, ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AT A TOTAL COST OF $324,683. A PART-TIME CASE MANAGER IS FOCUSED LARGELY ON PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT TO THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE FUNDS. AN ADDITIONAL PART-TIME CASE MANAGER WAS HIRED WHO POSSESSES A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND HELPS TO FACILITATE INPATIENT ADMISSION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICULAR DIFFICULTY ACCESSING CARE DUE TO SPECIFIC NEEDS.COVID SUPPLEMENTAL STATE OPIOID RESPONSE AND BLOCK GRANT FUNDS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT PREVENTION, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHESE FUNDS WERE USED FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF POSITIONS ORIGINALLY PROVIDED BY EXPANSION DOLLARS, ALLOWED STAFF TO FOLLOW CLIENT PROGRESS MORE CLOSELY INCLUDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT DURING INPATIENT TREATMENT STAYS. IT ALSO HELPED SUPPORT COMMUNITY-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR RECIPIENTS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE FUNDS AND A PART-TIME CASE MANAGER TO SPECIALIZE IN DIFFICULT INPATIENT PLACEMENTS.CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALIST (CRS) STAFF ARE ON-CALL 24/7/365 TO PRESENT AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR VIA TELEHEALTH TO MEET WITH OVERDOSE SURVIVORS OR ANYONE AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE USE TO ENGAGE AND TO FACILITATE AGREED UPON SERVICES. SUCH SERVICES INCLUDE INPATIENT TREATMENT VIA A CASE MANAGER, OUTPATIENT SERVICES, MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT AND/OR CRS FOLLOW-UP SERVICES. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED BY COMMISSION STAFF WITH HOSPITALS, A LOCAL EMS PROVIDER, AND A LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.THE COMMISSION ALSO DISSEMINATED 231 NALOXONE KITS VIA DISTRIBUTION EVENTS IN THE LYCOMING AND CLINTON COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND AN ADDITIONAL 166 KITS AS THE CENTRAL COORDINATING ENTITY (CCE) FOR CLINTON COUNTY. NALOXBOXES (UNITS WITH NALOXONE, CPR MASK AND INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR RESPONSE TO OPIOID OVERDOSE) WERE INSTALLED IN 47 COMMUNITY LOCATIONS IN CLINTON COUNTY AND 71 COMMUNITY LOCATIONS IN LYCOMING COUNTY. READY ACCESS TO THESE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE COUNTLESS LIVES AND PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN RECOVERY.THE COMMISSION SECURED $300,000 IN HEALTH CHOICES/COMMUNITY CARE FUNDS TO START A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOME PLUS (BHHP) PROGRAM IN MAY OF 2023. IN RECOGNITION OF THE MANY WAYS IN WHICH PHYSICAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ARE INTRICATELY INTERTWINED, THIS HAS ALLOWED FOR A GREATER WHOLISTIC FOCUS ON SERVING INDIVIDUALS' TOTAL WELLNESS, INCLUDING, AMONG MANY THINGS, NICOTINE CESSATION SERVICES AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SCREENING AND TREATMENT AS THEY RELATE TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE COMMISSION HOSTED A "FOUNDATIONS" TRAINING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DDAP TO IMPROVE PROVIDER AND STAFF IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AS WELL.A GRANT WAS OBTAINED ALSO TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A LAW ENFORCEMENT TREATMENT INITIATIVE (LETI) PROGRAM IN CLINTON COUNTY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CLINTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ALONG WITH OTHER PARTNERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS DEFLECTION MODEL SEEKS TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS EARLIER IN TREATMENT AND/OR RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES AND TO PROMOTE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY OPPORTUNITIES IN LIEU OF CHARGES AS OPPOSED TO IMPOSING NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES (SUCH AS INCARCERATION) WITHOUT POSITIVE SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. COMMISSION STAFF HELPED TO SECURE THE GRANT, PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING, CONNECTED PARTICIPANTS WITH TREATMENT AND OTHER RESOURCES, AND COORDINATED EFFORTS TO MEET GRANT RESPONSIBILITIES.COMMISSION STAFF ALSO ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING (CIT) FOR BOTH LYCOMING AND CLINTON COUNTIES. CIT HELPS FIRST RESPONDERS TO RECOGNIZE SUD AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN THOSE THEY ENCOUNTER AS WELL AS TO DEVELOP SKILLS AND BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH TOOLS FOR MEETING THESE NEEDS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES.FAMILY REMAINED A FOCAL POINT. BALM, OR BE A LOVING MIRROR, WAS AGAIN PROVIDED TO LOVED ONES OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. A CRS, DUALLY CERTIFIED AS A CERTIFIED FAMILY RECOVERY SPECIALIST (CFRS), BEGAN ENGAGING YOUTH WHOSE PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH AN SUD, MEETING WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY IN THE SCHOOL, EDUCATING THEM ON SUD AND OFFERING SUPPORT. CASE MANAGEMENT AND CRS STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A LEARNING SESSION TO PROMOTE USE OF FAMILY GROUP DECISION MAKING (FGDM) AND TO ENCOURAGE REFERRALS TO IN-HOUSE STAFF OR CHILDREN & YOUTH SERVICES.RUNNING OVER ADDICTION IN LYCOMING COUNTY AND THE RALLY FOR RECOVERY IN CLINTON COUNTY CELEBRATED THEIR 8TH YEAR AND WERE VERY WELL ATTENDED. THE COMMISSION ALSO OBSERVED INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY, HONORING LIVES LOST, SUPPORTING THE LOVED ONES LEFT BEHIND, AND BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE DANGERS OF SUBSTANCE USE IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID FUTURE OVERDOSE DEATHS.HEALTHCHOICES PROVIDED STAFF ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION FUNDS THAT WERE USED TO RECOGNIZE STAFF ANNIVERSARIES AND TO FOSTER PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY FOR STAFF. AN EQUITY IMPLEMENTATION TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED, AND MUCH TIME WAS DEVOTED TO ENSURING STAFF SAFETY EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE SAFETY FOR STAFF AND CLIENTELE ALIKE.

PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM FUNDS ARE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE COORDINATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH TENDENCIES TOWARD SUBSTANCE USE. FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2023, A TOTAL OF 1,642 PREVENTION SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 12,428 INDIVIDUALS. STUDENTS IN 91 CLASSROOMS RECEIVED THE EVIDENCE BASED "TOO GOOD FOR DRUGS" CURRICULUM. A TOTAL OF 27 FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES 10-14 PROGRAM THAT WAS PROVIDED IN BOTH COUNTIES IN THE FALL AND SPRING. A TOTAL OF 35 YOUTH AND 41 PARENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, DUI EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, PARENTING PROGRAMS, STICKER SHOCK, PRESENTATIONS, ATOD INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, POSITIVE ACTION CLASSES, ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES, GRASP SUPPORT GROUP, AND COMMUNITY COALITION SUPPORT.