Pictured: Steven Cobb, Executive Director, and Sean Jones, Recovery Coach for the Mental Health Association preparing recovery bags to be distributed to community members who have experienced an overdose.

SUBMITTED MEDIA RELEASE

MAYVILLE – There’s a new effort underway in Chautauqua County to respond to non-fatal overdose events with support and resources for recovery.

A true collaborative effort has led to the development of a program which will connect people who have experienced an overdose with a peer from the Mental Health Association within 48 hours. The project began in Jamestown this week. If the program is successful, County officials hope to expand efforts to all of Chautauqua County.

Over the past year, the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services (CCDHHS) has been working to engage law enforcement and emergency responders in a program that provides real-time surveillance and mapping of known and suspected overdose events.

The Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program (ODMAP) was developed and is operated by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program. The program is available nationwide, free of charge to public officials who aim to gather better data on fatal and non-fatal overdoses in their communities, and to design meaningful response plans for citizens in need.

ODMAP’s creators intended for it to result in better collaboration between public health agencies responding to the opioid crisis, and law enforcement agencies who frequently encounter and respond to overdose events in their communities.

“Getting ODMAP up and running in Chautauqua County has been a goal of our department since the summer of 2017,” stated Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua County Director of Health and Human Services. “We are eager and excited to see how this program can help us respond to the needs of our residents in a meaningful way, while collecting important data that will help us monitor the opioid epidemic.”

“This pilot offers us the opportunity to offer hope to those battling opioid addiction when they are vulnerable and potentially most receptive to the powerful message that treatment works and recovery is possible,” said Patricia Brinkman, Director of the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene.  “The peer recovery coach offers assistance in navigating the service system as well as one on one support throughout the process. The hope is this new approach will increase the number of individuals who choose to enter treatment following overdose,” continued Brinkman.

For this pilot project in Chautauqua County, the process begins when an officer of the Jamestown Police Department enters basic information about the overdose (fatal/non-fatal status, doses of Narcan given, and suspected drug) into the mobile-friendly ODMAP website. CCDHHS staff monitor the map daily for overdoses that occur in Jamestown, and request information about the overdose from the police department. When contacted by CCDHHS, the Mental Health Association (MHA) deploys a peer recovery coach to connect with the person and offer services as well as a care package.

The true value of the interaction is the connection between the peer and the person who recently experienced an overdose. The peer offers connection to services at MHA and other agencies throughout the community, including providers of Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT). Care packages being distributed are a token of support for those who are interested in getting involved with MHA, and for those who are not quite ready to make a change.  The packages and their contents serve as a reminder that help is available and how they can access help. The package includes information about local recovery resources, education about recovery, chap stick, and a healthy snack.

“The MHA is excited to be able to use Certified Peer Specialists to connect with our neighbors who have experienced an overdose. We meet people where they are at to develop a path of wellness and recovery. Recent studies have shown that people who connect with peer coaches have reduced rates of relapse and reduced substance use,” commented Steven Cobb, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association. “Everyone needs chances to recover.  Our peers will be able to help navigate our treatment system to make recovery easier.  This is a big step forward for recovery in our community.”

Several law enforcement and emergency response agencies are on board with the ODMAP effort, and work is ongoing to obtain full participation across the county. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, the Jamestown Police Department, the Lakewood-Busti Police Department, and Alstar Ambulance Services were a few of the early adopters in the County.

The ODMAP Peer Response project mirrors similar work being done in Erie County by the Cheektowaga Police Department and the Erie County Department of Health.In December of 2018, Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello’s Countywide Alliance for Enforcement and Rehabilitation (CAER) issued a report recommending a number of measures be implemented to better address the county’s drug crisis. One of those recommendations called for the creation of a peer response program in Chautauqua County which has now come to fruition.

Several partners have assisted in the design and implementation of this project, including Alstar EMS, Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council, the Chautauqua County Departments of Emergency Services, Health and Human Services, Mental Hygiene, the County Executive’s, District Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices, Chautauqua Opportunities Incorporated, Evergreen Health Services, Erie County Department of Health, HOPE Chautauqua, Jamestown Police Department, Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County, New York State Department of Health, UPMC Chautauqua, and Southern Tier Emergency Medical System, as well as various police and fire agencies throughout the county.

The ODMAP Peer Response project is supported by 1 NU90TP921994 (Public Health Opioid Crisis), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

At the recent Recovery Walk and Jam at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County, three local residents were recognized for their support of the recovery movement. From left, they are Laurie Keller, Sheridan Smith, and Krista Camarata.

JAMESTOWN – National Recovery Month was celebrated in Jamestown recently with a Recovery Walk and the honoring of three individuals for their substantial contributions to the recovery movement locally.

The Walk began and ended at the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County (MHA) in the Gateway Center on Water Street.

MHA Associate Director Steven Cobb recognized Krista Camarata, Director of Community Impact at the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County. Camarata was praised as a strong advocate for prevention, treatment and recovery and for her work with Chautauqua Bright Spots that supports and promotes all the positive things happening in Chautauqua County.

Chautauqua Alcohol & Substance Abuse Council (CASAC) Associate Director Laurie Reynolds applauded Lauri Keller for the third successful memorial walk to benefit A Fresh Start. Keller organizes the Walks in remembrance of her daughter, McKenzie Paulson, and others who have suffered from substance use disorders.

CASAC Executive Director Melanie Witkowski commended Sheridan Smith for his work with the youth development program Awareness Theatre. Smith is creator of the video Recover Jamestown and has an ongoing commitment to Refuge Recovery groups at the MHA and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Presentations to the honorees were made by State Senator Andrew Goodell and by Katrina Fuller on behalf of Assemblyman Tom Reed.

Chautauqua County Adult, Child & Family Services Deputy Commissioner Leanna Luka-Conley presented a proclamation on behalf of County Executive George Borello.

Jamestown City Council President Marie Carrubba read a proclamation of National Recovery Month by Mayor Sam Teresi.

UPMC Chautauqua provided refreshments and information for the event that was free and open to the public.

The Recovery Walk was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Chautauqua Alcohol & Substance Abuse Council, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Chautauqua Tapestry, Evergreen Health Services, HOPE Chautauqua, Mental Health Association, and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.

An MHA Recovery Jam followed the Recovery Walk. Presentations included poetry, stories, a violin solo, and appreciations for help supporting a variety of recovery stories.

The MHA is a peer recovery support center offering recovery coaching, peer support services, peer support groups, advocacy, veterans support, employment and job support, trainings, and family support. The MHA provides linkages to mental health and substance use treatment, primary care doctors, health and human services, and is available to assist adult individuals in identifying community resources for healthier living.

Anyone with questions or in need of services for themselves or a family member is welcome to call or stop in at Door 14 in the rear of the Gateway Center, 31 Water Street, Jamestown. Hours are Monday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To learn more about the MHA, call (716) 661-9044 or visit www.mhachautauqua.org or www.facebook.com/MHAChautauqua.