Sages Army Inc

THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY RECOVERY PROJECT - PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD CONNECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE REGION, INCREASE ACCESS TO SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, CONNECT RURAL COMMUNITIES TO APPROPRIATE SERVICES BY PROVIDING FREE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND OUTREACH, REDUCE STIGMA AND HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND INCREASE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EQUITY IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY. THIS PROJECT, "THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY RECOVERY PROJECT", WILL SERVE THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON BUILDING LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITIES OF RECOVERY. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY INCREASING RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, BY CONTINUING TO PROVIDE FREE, NO-BARRIER SERVICES TO ANYONE SEEKING SUPPORT. THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THIS GRANT, WE EXPECT TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO AT LEAST 100 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY, WITH AT LEAST 300 PEOPLE BEING SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE GRANT TERM. WE INTEND TO DO THIS BY: 1. OFFERING ONE-ON-ONE RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALISTS, 2. HELPING TO IMPROVE HOUSING EQUITY BY ASSISTING PARTICIPANTS WITH FINANCIAL HOUSING SUPPORTS, INCLUDING OFFERING HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE IN RECOVERY WHO CANNOT AFFORD INITIAL DOWN PAYMENTS AND DEPOSITS FOR SOBER HOUSING ARRANGEMENTS, 3. PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT RELIABLE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, 4. PARTNERING WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO ADMINISTER DIRECT SERVICES TO PEOPLE ON MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER, AND 5. FACILITATING A VARIETY OF MUTUAL AID MEETINGS, INCLUDING SPECIALTY MEETINGS FOR THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THIS GRANT, SAGE'S ARMY WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE STIGMA SURROUNDING SUBSTANCE USE AND RECOVERY IN THE COMMUNITY BY HOLDING TRAININGS, EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, AND BY DISTRIBUTING ANTI-STIGMA/INFORMATIONAL DIRECT MAILERS TO ZIP CODES THROUGHOUT WESTMORELAND COUNTY, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON RURAL AREAS WITHOUT TRADITIONAL ACCESS TO RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES. WE WILL PROVIDE FOUR CEU TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND LOCAL, PEER-BASED PROFESSIONALS, WITH A FOCUS ON ETHICS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND WORKING WITH SPECIALTY POPULATIONS TO INCREASE CULTURAL COMPETENCY FOR PEER-SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY. WE WILL HOST BI-MONTHLY SOBER ACTIVITIES FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR LOVED ONES, PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, AND ALLIES OF PEOPLE IN RECOVERY THROUGHOUT WESTMORELAND COUNTY AND THE REGION, TO INCREASE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AND WORK ON EXPANDING OUR HEPATITIS C./HIV SCREENING THROUGH CENTRAL OUTREACH WELLNESS CENTER AND CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH POSITIVE RECOVERY SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE VIVITROL SERVICES TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FREE NALOXONE KITS AND TRAININGS TO THE COMMUNITY, TO HELP REDUCE ANNUAL ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSES IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.