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July 25, 2017 <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> In May, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia received a $9.76 million <br />federal grant to help fight the opioid epidemic. <br /> <br /> The one-year grant is provided by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health <br />and Developmental Services (DBHDS) using funding from the federal Substance Abuse <br />and Mental Health Services Administration to help support prevention, treatment and <br />recovery efforts. <br /> <br /> In Virginia, a total of 18 communities received designation of funding based on <br />need such as overdose rates and other factors. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> On June 12, 2017, the City of Portsmouth Department of Behavioral Healthcare <br />Services (PDBHS) and the Virginia Beach and Norfolk Community Services Boards were <br />notified of a joint grant award to establish demonstration projects related to providing <br />Emergency Room access to Peer Recovery Specialists for people experiencing Opioid <br />addiction crisis. The total of the award is $267,894 with each locality receiving $89,298 <br />each. <br /> <br /> The second objective of the grant relates to the development of a Warm Line for <br />access to a Peer Recovery Specialist for individuals to connect peer-to-peer before a <br />crisis. (A Warm Line is a telephone answering line staffed by someone with lived <br />experiences.) The city of Portsmouth will be hiring two part-time recovery specialists from <br />an employment agency to staff the city’s Warm Line. The cost will be reimbursed from the <br />grant via the Norfolk CSB. <br /> <br /> These two projects will assist with the development of a trained and qualified Peer <br />Recovery workforce in Virginia. These funds will also ensure that individuals receive other <br />clinical services and resources to address all pragmatic barriers to treatment. These funds <br />will assist with addressing the prescription drug and the heroin epidemic. <br /> <br /> The five objectives of the grant are: <br /> Providing Emergency Room access to Peer Recovery Specialists to address <br />o <br />issues of people experiencing Opioid addiction crisis. <br /> Creating demonstration projects related to Warm Line access to Peer Recovery <br />o <br />Specialists for people to connect before a crisis occurs. <br /> Peer Recovery Support services to assist identified individuals in gaining access <br />o <br />to recovery –oriented social supports such as housing, employment and other needed <br />services. <br /> Development of a trained and qualified Peer Recovery Specialist workforce in <br />o <br />Virginia. <br /> Opportunities to create outreach to military veterans <br />o <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> <br /> There is no financial impact to the city. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustments. <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Clark, and seconded by Mr. Moody, to adopt the following ordinance, <br />and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE ACCEPTING AN OPIOID PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND <br />RECOVERY GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,298 FROM THE VIRGINIA <br />DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES AND <br />APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2018 BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE <br />SERVICES FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BHS TO PROVIDE PEER <br />RECOVERY AND OTHER SERVICES TO ASSIST THOSE FIGHTING OPIOID <br />ADDICTION.” <br /> <br /> <br />Ayes: Cherry, Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Rowe <br />Nays: None <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />