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Home My Public Portal About4.13.2023 Statewide Opioid Settlement BSASDPH OPIOID ABATEMENT UPDATE GUIDANCE & RESOURCES Sarah C. Ruiz, MSW Deputy Director of Strategy & Community Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services The Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council •Chapter 309 of the Acts of 2020 established the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council. o Charged with developing recommendations for the expenditure of the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Trust Fund to mitigate the impacts of the opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth. o Chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and comprised of a diverse panel of policymakers, public health professionals, legal experts, and clinicians appointed by the Governor and Attorney General. Membership Statute The Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory Council The council approved the following initial strategies for Statewide ORRF funding: 1)Expansion of harm reduction services, 2)Increased access to methadone, 3)Expansion of supportive housing programs including low-threshold housing, and 4)Multi-disciplinary team community outreach and engagement 5)Student Loan Forgiveness •EHS engaged a vendor to develop a 3-year strategic plan to guide statewide ORRF spending going forward Update on Initial Allocation for Statewide Trust Fund Expansion of Supportive Housing Programs Increased Access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Expansion of Harm Reduction Services Student Loan Forgiveness Community Outreach and Engagement Appropriations to Date Current ORRF Revenue and Appropriation Breakdown for FY22, FY23 as of 12/1/2022 Total Revenue:$ $91,993,357.00 Expansion of Harm Reduction Programming $ (3,400,000.00) Expansion of Low-Threshold Access to MOUD $ (3,100,000.00) Expansion of Low Barrier Housing Options and Supports $ (2,000,000.00) Community Outreach and Engagement $ (750,000.00) Student Loan Forgiveness $ (15,000,000) Strategic Spending Plan $ (432,700) Total Funding Available: $ $ 67,310,657 Tribal Opioid Settlements https://www.tribalopioidsettlements.com/Index All Federally-Recognized Tribes are included in the Opioid Settlements separately from the State Settlements. State-recognized tribes and other Native Americans living in MA can participate in the state settlements and give input at the state or municipal levels. The two federally recognized tribes in MA are the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Municipal Abatement Strategies Municipal abatement funds must be used to implement strategies set forth in the State-Subdivision Agreement, including reasonable workforce costs necessary to support the programs and strategies The agreement lays out various programs and strategies designed to support and promote: •Opioid use disorder treatment access •Support for people in treatment and recovery •Connections to care •Harm Reduction •Meeting the needs of justice-involved individuals •Support for Pregnant and Parenting Individuals and their Children •Prevention Municipal Abatement Funds Municipalities receiving total annual payments of $35,000 or more are required to report annually •Municipalities are encouraged to pool resources and collaborate •All municipalities will be encouraged to submit a report •DPH is providing support to municipalities on reporting and strategy implementation building on existing resources. Draft report template available at DPH webpage: Guidance for Municipalities Utilizing Opioid Settlement Abatement Payments Municipal funding amounts are posted on the AGO website •Reflects the input of our communities, of people who have personal experience with the opioid crisis, of experts in treatment and prevention, and of staff and organizations that are carrying out the abatement work; •Addresses disparities in existing services and outcomes and improves equity and the health of individuals and communities disadvantaged by race, wealth, and stigma, including through efforts to increase diversity among service providers; https://www.mass.gov/doc/march-4-2022-ma-subdivision-agreement/download ABATEMENT Shared Commitments –part 1 •Addresses mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and other behavior health needs that occur together with opioid use disorder (“OUD”); •Leverages programs and services already reimbursed by state agencies and programs, including direct care reimbursed by MassHealth and the state’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (“BSAS”); and, •Encourages innovation, fills gaps and fixes shortcomings of existing approaches; supplements rather than supplants resources for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery; includes evidence-based, evidence-informed, and promising programs; and takes advantage of the flexibility that is allowed for these funds. https://www.mass.gov/doc/march-4-2022-ma-subdivision-agreement/download ABATEMENT Shared Commitments –part 2 Draft Annual Municipal Reporting Form All municipal annual reports will be publicly available in an interactive map for full transparency Report Visualization Support from BSAS •The John Snow Institute (JSI), is funded to partner with BSAS and OLRH to support opioid abatement community engagement, strategy selection, implementation, and reporting. •Connections to regional/local contacts for help with convening people with lived experience locally For updates please go to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/guidance-for-municipalities-utilizing-opioid-settlement-abatement-payments Community Engagement Partners BSAS staff and BSAS-funded organizations are available to support municipalities with soliciting input from people with lived experience locally. Regional Community Engagement Teams •Regional Community Engagement Teams are available to help support municipalities with coordination of input from people with lived experience with the Opioid Crisis locally. •BSAS will continue to add to these teams and support participation by people directly impacted by the Opioid crisis including marginalized populations. Danielle O'Brien Recovery Community Support Coordinator BSAS Regional Contact: danielle.o'brien@mass.gov Julie Bunch Regional Coordinator MOAR Katie O'Leary Director of Recovery Services North Suffolk Community Services Julie Casey Nurse Manager of Addictions Division/RN North Suffolk Community Services Dave Decourcey Program Director Devine Recovery Center, Gavin Foundation Kevin O'Brien Recovery Coach Manager North Suffolk Community Services Jamie Dalton Recovery Coach Supervisor North Suffolk Community Services Jose Luna Behavioral Specialist Supervisor Dimock Health Center Melissa Foss Recovery Coach North Suffolk Community Services Boston Region: Northeast Region: Boston and Northeast Regional Teams Boston Regional Contact: Danielle.O’Brien@mass.gov Northeast Regional Contact: Andrea.Macone@mass.gov Andrea Macone Community Engagement Coordinator BSAS Regional Contact: andrea.macone@mass.gov Julia Bunch Regional Coordinator MOAR Joanna Morillo Program Director New Begginings Recovery Center, Spectrum Kim Patterson Program Director Lynn Recovery Center, Spectrum Michelle Simons Addiction Workforce Grant Coordinator North Shore Community College Nicole Cardelle Program Director /Recovery Coach Supervisor The Recovery Café Lowell, Lowell House Keriann Cacavarro Program Director The Bridge Recovery Center, Gavin Foundation Mike Bryant Peer Recovery Support Coordinator BSAS Regional Contact: michael.a.bryant@mass.gov Scott Francis Regional Coordinator MOAR Carmen Arnold Program Director The Recovery Connection/Spectrum Daurice Cox (SE)Executive Director Baystate Community Services Linda Rosenberg Regional Manager Learn to Cope Mike Bryant Peer Recovery Support Coordinator BSAS Regional Contact: michael.a.bryant@mass.gov Noel Sierra Regional Coordinator MOAR Robert Cropper Director of Recovery Management Services Martha's Vineyard Community Services Rosa Medeiros Director of Homeless Services Steppingstone Melissa Kachapis Clinical Director Steppingstone Carl Alves Chief Executive Officer PAACA Doris Kraemer Cape Cod Family Liaison for Learn to Cope; Commissioner on Falmouth CSU; board member for RIZE Learn to Cope/RIZE/Falmouth CSU Southeast and Metrowest Regional Teams Southeast & Metrowest Contact: Michael.A.Bryant@mass.gov Metrowest Region: Southeast Region: Debbie Flynn-Gonzalez Peer Recovery Support Coordinator BSAS Regional Contact: debra.j.flynn- gonzalez@mass.gov Nico Alicea Regional Coordinator MOAR peter babineau Director -Learn to Cope West Learn to Cope Erin Forbush Director ServiceNet Kristel Applebee Chief Executive Officer WMTC John Sullivan Assistant Director Northampton Recovery Center, WMTC Debbie Flynn-Gonzalez Peer Recovery Support Coordinator BSAS Regional Contact: debra.j.flynn- gonzalez@mass.gov Matt Gear Regional Coordinator MOAR Shawn Hayden (W)Vice President GAAMHA Terri Nabulsi Regional Manager Learn to Cope Athena Haddon Executive Director of Peer Services Spectrum Jackie Blanchard Program Director GAAMHA/Alyssa's Place Michelle Dunn Assistant VP of SUD services/ President & Founder of Alyssa's Place GAAMHA/Alyssa's Place Western and Central Regional Teams Western Region: Central Region: West & Central Contact: Debra.J.Flynn- Gonzalez@mass.gov Questions Questions or recommendations can be sent to DPHMuniOpioidAbatementQs@mass.gov Thank you for your participation! For updates and more information on the Community Engagement Teams, please go to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/guidance-for-municipalities-utilizing-opioid-settlement-abatement-payments Resources provided in link: •Announcements •Regional Community Engagement Assistance •Statewide Opioid Settlement Recoveries •Guidelines for Expenditure of Municipal Opioid Settlement Recoveries •Statewide procurements for opioid-related programs and services •Existing Free Harm Reduction Resources for Municipalities •Reporting Requirements for Municipalities •Additional Resources