Arepa Inc

COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEMENTIA CARE

RURAL COMMUNITIES OPIOID RESPONSE PROGRAM-IMPACT - CAREPARTNERS OF GEORGIA, INC. (CPGA) REQUESTS $749,954 IN YEAR 1 (UP TO $750,000/YEAR ACROSS A 4-YEAR, $3,000,000 TOTAL PROJECT PERIOD; SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 - AUGUST 31, 2030) TO LAUNCH PROJECT CEDAR: CANDLER-EMANUEL DELIVERING ACCESSIBLE RECOVERY, AN INTEGRATED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND PEER RECOVERY INITIATIVE SERVING CANDLER AND EMANUEL COUNTIES, GEORGIA (939 SQUARE MILES, 34,180 RESIDENTS). NEITHER COUNTY IS CURRENTLY SERVED BY AN ACTIVE RCORP-IMPACT AWARD OR DEDICATED SUD TREATMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, DESPITE DOCUMENTED RURAL OPIOID AND POLYSUBSTANCE BURDEN. CPGA, A CARF-ACCREDITED, DBHDD-LICENSED PROVIDER WITH 23 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS RURAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE, WILL EXPAND ITS EXISTING TELEHEALTH-FIRST, COMMUNITY-BASED MODEL TO BUILD THE REGION'S FIRST COORDINATED CONTINUUM OF SUD CARE. THE PROJECT FUNDS 11 NEW OR EXPANDED POSITIONS, INCLUDING A NETWORK COORDINATOR, CLINICAL TEAM LEAD, REGISTERED NURSE, PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER, LICENSED CLINICAL COUNSELOR, TWO CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALISTS, A CASE MANAGER, AND AN INTAKE CLERK, ALONGSIDE A MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND LPC-CLINICAL DIRECTOR PROVIDING CLINICAL OVERSIGHT. PROJECT CEDAR ADVANCES FOUR GOALS. GOAL 1 DELIVERS TIERED, EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS, INCLUDING SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMMING (BOTVIN LIFESKILLS, CBITS, BOUNCE BACK) ACROSS 30+ SCHOOLS, JAIL-BASED MOUD INDUCTION AT BOTH COUNTY JAILS, AND TELEHEALTH-DELIVERED PSYCHIATRIC AND MOUD PRESCRIBING. GOAL 2 PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION-BARRIER MITIGATION THROUGH REMOTE TESTING AND TELEHEALTH. GOAL 3 BUILDS SUSTAINABLE RURAL WORKFORCE CAPACITY THROUGH CPGA'S 5-YEAR GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY PSYD BHWET PARTNERSHIP (14 TRAINEES PLACED TO DATE), DBHDD CLIMB TUITION REIMBURSEMENT CONVERTING HIGH-RETENTION PEER STAFF INTO A LICENSED CLINICAL PIPELINE, FREE DBHDD PEER CERTIFICATION, AND PURSUIT OF MEDICARE CREDENTIALING TO UNLOCK NHSC/STAR LRP LOAN REPAYMENT FOR RURAL RECRUITMENT. GOAL 4 STRENGTHENS NETWORK ENGAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, ANCHORED BY A 10-PARTNER NETWORK INCLUDING THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (DBHDD), GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S GEORGIA HEALTH POLICY CENTER (GHPC, SERVING AS DATA COORDINATOR), BOTH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS. GHPC WILL LEAD EVALUATION AND DATA COORDINATION, APPLYING RE-AIM AND PDSA FRAMEWORKS TO TRACK REACH, EFFECTIVENESS, AND IMPLEMENTATION FIDELITY, INCLUDING SBIRT/CRAFFT+N SCREENING OUTCOMES, MOUD INITIATION AND RETENTION, AND TIER 1-3 PREVENTION PENETRATION. SUSTAINABILITY IS ANCHORED BY CPGA'S PURSUIT OF DBHDD TIER 2.5 PROVIDER DESIGNATION, WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE MEDICAID-REIMBURSED SAIOP SERVICES FOR UNINSURED CLIENTS, SUSTAINING TREATMENT INFRASTRUCTURE BEYOND THE GRANT PERIOD, FORMALLY ENDORSED BY DBHDD COMMISSIONER KEVIN TANNER. PROJECT CEDAR REPRESENTS THE EXPANSION OF AN ALREADY-FUNCTIONING, ALREADY-PROVEN RURAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM INTO FULL RCORP-IMPACT FIDELITY FROM YEAR 1, NOT A CAPACITY-BUILDING EXERCISE, DIRECTLY ADDRESSING FUNDING PRIORITY 1 (NEW SERVICE AREA) AND FUNDING PRIORITY 2 (NEW RCORP-IMPACT RECIPIENT).

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.