A Tragic Storm: Combatting the Opioid Crisis

Let’s Fight the Opioid Epidemic Together

AHP’s nationally recognized experts can work with your organization to develop, strengthen, implement, and measure a powerful opioid response plan that meets your needs and goals. We can help you create opioid use disorder (OUD) programs and services such as these:

• Program and system-of-care design that reflects cultural, societal, and social drivers of health and evidence-based practices
• Expanded access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and recovery support services
• Care coordination strategies for effective population health management
• Seamless integration of medical, behavioral, and social health providers
• Implementing value-based reimbursement
• Employer and workforce development, training, and education
• Prevention activities
• Community coalition-building
• Evaluation of programs

States

Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP)

California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) was authorized through 2021 legislation to establish BHCIP and award $2.2 billion to construct, acquire, and expand properties and invest in mobile crisis infrastructure related to behavioral health. In partnership with AHP as the administrative services entity, DHCS is releasing these funds through six grant rounds targeting various gaps in the state’s behavioral health facility infrastructure.

Crisis Care Mobile Units (CCMUs)

AHP has helped facilitate the creation and expansion of 304 CCMUs for 48 counties, cities, and tribal entities throughout California under DHCS’s BHCIP. These units are staffed by mobile crisis response teams who are trained to respond to all manner of behavioral health crises, including opioid overdose and substance use disorder (SUD)–related crises. In the third quarter of 2023 alone, CCMU teams responded to 19,185 crises.

California Youth Opioid Response

In partnership with the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions, and funded by DHCS, AHP has expanded access to a continuum of OUD prevention, intervention, MOUD, and other treatment and recovery services for California youth and their families.

Narcotic Treatment Program Resource Expansion, Access & Collaboration for Health (NTP REACH)

We’re helping California DHCS use federal State Opioid Response (SOR) funding to expand MOUD capacity for those who need it most. Partnering with UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, AHP works on planning, outreach, ongoing support for Non-motorized Transportation Pilot subgrantees, educational programming development, and data collection and reporting.

Access to Recovery (ATR)

For 13 years, AHP has supported the Massachusetts Department of Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) in administering ATR, giving people in early recovery from OUD wide access to community services. ATR offers recovery support services including employment skill training, funding to meet basic needs, and recovery coaching. Outcomes include sustained recovery, employment, and reduced criminal justice involvement.

Massachusetts SOR

As part of the Massachusetts Department of Health’s BSAS-funded SOR grant, AHP leads the data collection and performance measurements for approximately 30 SUD treatment and recovery service providers. The real-time data snapshots that these data generate allow grantees to gain a deeper understanding of their clients’ needs and the services required to meet those needs. ​

Illinois State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis (STR)

AHP has been involved in two federal efforts in Illinois to address the opioid crisis. Under STR, AHP helped Illinois develop a strategic plan that guides prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts and fosters collaboration across multiple stakeholder groups. Focus areas and populations include MOUD, people with criminal justice system involvement, children and families, prescribing guidelines, and public awareness and education.

Illinois Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA)

As the RCCA, AHP reaches and assists people with SUD/OUD and their families across Illinois, prioritizing designated areas of the state that are not currently receiving SUD services and those hardest hit by the opioid crisis. Services implemented through this award support and expand resources to reduce drug overdoses and increase recovery capital initiatives on a regional level—especially in areas in each region that have experienced opioid overdose disparities.

While we celebrate the millions of Americans who are in recovery, it’s critical for millions more to get care, treatment, and prevention education. Together, let’s help them heal and regain a sense of meaning in their lives.