NEWS

May 1, 2023 | Link to original article published by the Arkadelphian

LITTLE ROCK — During a recent check presentation ceremony, representatives from the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP) announced 13 awardees of the Coalition Partnership Empowerment (COPE) initiative. Selected coalitions will receive $25,000 in funding to attend personalized training with CADCA, an international organization created to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally.

There are disciplined requirements for entering Harvest House and remaining, with random drug testing in place. “But also, random kindness, loving support and opportunities for a new life abound,” Mosley said, adding that job opportunities are typically available for those in the program. “Friendships are forged and peer mentoring occurs on a daily basis. We have seen numerous lives changed with this program,” she said.

Harvest House is set up for at least a 120-day program, but each person’s needs are considered individually, Mosley said. “At any given time, we could be serving as many as 50 or more occupants.”

Current programs associated with the Harvest House:

• Transitional chemical-free housing
• Weekly urinalysis
• Weekly 12-step recovery programs at different locations/times
• Peer mentoring
• Employment assistance
• Transportation to medical facilities and court/drug court
• Court advocacy
• Child care during work hours with two meals provided
• Child and parent reunification
• Spiritual guidance and church services in a non-judgmental and supportive atmosphere
• Social and conference events
• Community outreach

“Graduates from the Harvest House are great advocates against the war on drugs and are becoming part of a coalition to fight drugs in our community,” Mosley added.

CADCA President and CEO, General Barrye L. Price, said, “CADCA’s work with the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, and throughout the greater state of Arkansas, will equip substance use and misuse prevention coalitions with the training they need to become sustainable, transformative forces. Community coalitions continue to be at the epicenter of addressing the opioid epidemic in their communities, so it is vital that we can train them to promptly and effectively initiate action.”

Part of the COPE project includes training Arkansas coalitions to apply for the federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program next year. If every coalition were selected for the program, then Arkansas cities and counties could receive up to $16 million in DFC funding over the next 10 years.

Partnership Deputy Director Tenesha Barnes said during the conference, “Coalitions are one of the most effective ways to empower communities to prevent substance misuse locally. It is a privilege to see these thirteen coalitions honored for their work and empowered to continue protecting their communities against the dangers of substance misuse.”

Coalitions who were selected for the COPE project include:

• Amazing Angels – Chicot County
• The Young Artist Studio – Union County
• Sebastian County Opioid Task Force – Sebastian County, Scott County
• Carroll County Hometown Health – Carroll County
• Prevention Awareness Youth Support (PAYS) – Baxter County, Marion County
• Newton County Hometown Health – Newton County
• Greene County Mental Health and Substance Abuse – Greene County
• Bridging the Gap – Miller County
• The Harvest House – Clark County
• Madison County Health Coalition – Madison County
• Healing in the Hood – Mississippi County
• Succeeding in Success – Desha County
• DAAF Youth Coalition – Ashley County

At the conference, ARORP also announced funding for four additional projects. They awarded $1,118,217 to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department, which will be used for community outreach for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, prioritizing individuals with opioid use disorder. Natural State Recovery received $402,134.88 to purchase a facility that they will convert into an outpatient recovery center in Downtown Little Rock. In Logan County, Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center received $738,903 to renovate Horizon Renewal Center, a voluntary, secure adult substance use disorder residential treatment facility located in Booneville, AR. They also received $104,736 for a peer support specialist for the Logan County Community and Jail Recovery Project.

ARORP has several other funding opportunities available to organizations fighting substance misuse in Arkansas’s cities and counties. Funding opportunities through ARORP are ongoing, and therefore do not have submission deadlines, and should support public and private evidence-based projects. For more information about programs the Partnership will support, please read the funding guidelines at arorp.org.

About the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership
The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP), an initiative of the Arkansas Municipal League and the Association of Arkansas Counties, represents an unprecedented, united front between the representatives of local government to abate the loss of life caused by the opioid epidemic in Arkansas communities. The Partnership oversees the strategic disbursement of opioid settlement dollars at the city and county levels and works to reduce overdose deaths through prevention, treatment, enforcement, and recovery. ARORP’s message is simple: be bold, stand together and commit to abating opioid misuse and addiction in Arkansas. To learn more and submit a request for funding, visit arorp.org.

About CADCA
The mission of CADCA is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy, and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training, and special events.