The Year 2 HOPE Consortium Work Plan underwent significant revision by state staff following submission, but many of the changes did not reflect the work that is actually being done. Bernestine Jeffers, our DHS contract administrator, agreed to review redline changes made by internal staff and following several working meetings, we are nearly ready to resubmit. Though time consuming, the process has really helped solidify our plans moving forward, including the importance of routine communication.

Dr. Michelle Bensen and Sheila Weix put together a two-part ask that was submitted to Bernestine to allow use of grant funds for purchase and distribution of nasal naloxone in an effort to reduce opioid-related mortality. Bernestine likes the idea and has asked that we submit a more detailed work plan regarding nasal naloxone distribution and training. 

First, we are requesting that nasal naloxone be added to the list of medications for which the grant can serve as a payer of last resort. Second, funds are requested for the purchase and distribution of nasal naloxone to regional emergency responders to increase availability of the medication for use in cases of suspected overdose. Doses will be distributed in packaging that contains information about the treatment services for opioid use disorder available through the HOPE Consortium and where to turn for help. These activities are focused on reducing regional opioid-related mortality by increasing access to the availability.

In the spring, we congratulated Dottie Moffat on her selection as a Champion in Women's Health by the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation. We are fortunate to again have the achievements of one of our own recognized - Ronda Kopelke, Director, Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach, received the Lifetime Achievement in Prevention award at the Northwoods Coalition Annual Meeting and Training in June. The purpose of the award is to recognize an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the field of prevention over a number of years, is an innovative thinker whose work has advanced prevention efforts in Wisconsin, and is viewed by his or her peers as an integral part of Wisconsin prevention efforts. Ronda was integral to the formation of the Northwoods Coalition in 1995, which is the largest and oldest coalition dedicated to substance abuse prevention in Wisconsin. Congratulations, Ronda - we're glad you've taken up the torch for treatment!

Two steps forward... REDCap update

With grateful hearts, we wish a fond farewell to Daniel Wall as he moves into a new position with the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation. We also welcome our new application analyst, Leila Deering, to the team to continue leading the charge toward a functional REDCap database. Daniel and Leila have been working closely to ensure that the project will continue to move forward. Several forms have been developed and are ready for use, pending approval of agreements between partners for data sharing and use of the REDCap system.

It appears that a legal impasse has been reached with respect to the purchase of ASAM Continuum software for use by the HOPE Consortium, so we will move forward without. Following completion of ASAM e-Training, staff can use a paper-based version of the ASAM placement criteria as a temporary fix until a grant consent process is established and all partners are able to access the ASAM evaluation form in REDCap. As a reminder, ASAM e-Training is available to you through the HOPE Consortium. Start here or contact Becky Wagner at  wagner.rebecca@marshfieldclinic.org  or (715)221-8411 for more information.

We talked a lot at the last HOPE Board meeting about defining a grant patient and the need for a consenting process. In order to continue moving forward, Sheila Weix and Rachel Stankowski will be going "on the road" to visit each partner site and learn more about intake, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment processes currently in use and to better understand how grant activities may be implemented. Following the visits, Sheila and Rachel will compile the information and prepare a summary of processes across consortium partners as a basis for follow-up discussion.  The Roadshow begins at the end of July, coming soon to a location near you!

Please don't forget to spread the word about our HOPE Consortium website, available at www.hopeconsortium.org. Please stay tuned for the final development of printed materials that we will be asking you to approve in the near future! 

An opportunity has arisen to further address the needs of our patients with substance use disorders through the development of a Recovery Corps - a team of individuals at least one year into their own recovery trained as peer recovery coaches. (See additional information from SAMSHA on what peer recovery support services entail here.) Before we apply for a grant to develop these services in our region, we'd like to gauge the interest of all the HOPE Consortium partners. If peer coaches were available to support your patients throughout their recovery, would you be interested in encouraging use of their services in your patients with substance use disorders? Please let us know your thoughts - respond to Rachel Stankowski at stankowski.rachel@marshfieldclinic.org or (715)389-3442.