Roadmap for Opioid Abatement Funding Recommendations Presented to Board of Supervisors
By: Ashley Jacobs, Management Analyst, Orange County Administration Department
At its December 3, 2024, meeting, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a roadmap for opioid abatement funding recommendations as presented by the Orange County Epidemic Intelligence Council (EpIC). The recommendations were drafted following an asset - mapping exercise in which the EpIC membership evaluated current assets, gaps, and barriers to opioid abatement strategies in Orange County, specifically.
The presented plan included a priority strategy which details the need to hire an Opioid Response Program Coordinator immediately, followed by short and long - term priorities. Upon creation and fulfillment of the Coordinator position, the County will begin work on the following strategies:
• Conduct a survey to identify the OAA spending priorities of community members. • Work with EMS and the Sheriff ’ s Office to enhance the utilization of the mobile overdose outreach team to make follow - up contacts. • Improve access to reliable transportation for the community to utilize for necessary appointments related to court, treatment, and recovery.
• Ensure training for school staff/public officials/first responders, and community members on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). • Implement a county - wide media/education campaign that will target different generations and focus on stigma, prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Long - term strategies for future consideration include:
• Determine the viability of dedicating a full - time certified substance use clinician to Orange County.
• Develop a drop - in center to increase peer support and promote a recovery community.
• Partner with the Economic Development Office to attract treatment providers to Orange County.
• Establish recovery houses in Orange County to provide housing support for women with children.
All funds used to carry out the identified strategies are allocated from disbursements to Orange County through the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority. These funds are available as a result of settlement agreements with prescription opioid manufacturers and companies in the prescription opioid distribution network, which began being negotiated and finalized in 2020 - 2021. Since February, the EpIC Membership has completed mission and vision work and confirmed its commitment to collaboratively address substance misuse in Orange County by strategically using resources to initiate action, including education, addressing root causes of addiction, identifying resources, and supporting sustainable recovery. The Opioid Response Program Coordinator will continue to lead EpIC as members work to carry out the mission and implement the strategies identified in the roadmap. The full roadmap document is available for viewing online. For more information, please contact staff members Ashley Jacobs, Management Analyst, at ajacobs@orangecountyva.gov, or Chris Votaw, Investigator, at cvotaw@orangecountyva.gov..
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