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SALISBURY, MD---ºÚÁÏÍø has earned a federal grant to help bring regional agencies and groups together to plan strategies for combatting the Eastern Shore’s opioid crisis.

The $200,000 award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be used to create the Stepping Stones to Progress Consortium.

“We hope to help reduce opioid overdoses and deaths by creating a partnership that will strengthen our ability to address both prevention and treatment education,” said Dr. Deborah Mathews, director of SU’s School of Social Work.

Mathews is one of two faculty from the University’s new College of Health and Human Services who are leading the effort; the other is Dr. Sherry Maykrantz, assistant professor of community health in the School of Health Sciences.

The project will focus on seven rural high-risk counties on the Mid- and Lower Shore:  Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset and Worcester.

During this initial year of funding, Mathews said they hope to solidify the consortium with an MOA/MOU agreement between the partner organizations of SU, Caroline County Public Schools, Eastern Shore Psychological Services, McCready Health and the Worcester County Health Department. They envision others being involved as the project continues. 

“We are excited to collaborate with so many professionals in the community,” Maykrantz said. “We all have the same goal to promote and protect the health of people. As health education specialists, we analyze the socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental and other factors that impact population health such as opioid use.”  

The consortium also will complete a regional needs assessment that will lead to the development of strategic, workforce and sustainability plans. Monthly meetings and two regional summits will be held. This fall’s summit will include focus groups with key stakeholders from the target counties. At a summit next summer, results will be disseminated. Findings also will be shared throughout the region.

HHS recently awarded over $1 billion in opioid-related grants to help combat the crisis ravaging the nation. As part of this effort, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded $19 million to 95 organizations nationwide under the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Planning.

The SU grant, “Stepping Stones to Progress in Winning the Opioid Battle Consortium,” is part of this effort.  HRSA is the primary federal agency improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.