Federal funds will aid Will County Narcan program

The effort to assist those who suffer with substance abuse disorder in Will County has received a boost, thanks to the allocation of thousands of dollars in federal funds.

Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant announced last week that three Community Project Funding requests made by the county were included in the federal Omnibus Appropriations Bill for the 2022 fiscal year.

The $975,000 in federal funding will support critical local needs, including investment in a behavioral health workforce initiative and supporting the county’s Opioid Overdose Intervention Program.

The spending package was signed into law on March 15 by President Joe Biden.

The legislation allocates $475,000 to strengthen Will County’s fight against opioid abuse, including $175,000 to Will County's Rapid Response Team and $300,000 for the Will County Behavioral Health Workforce Project.

The Rapid Response Team deploys Naloxone to high-risk communities and helps individuals with a substance use disorder connect to recovery resources.

Naloxone, commonly referred to by the brand name Narcan, is a nasal spray that can neutralize the effects of an opioid overdose.

The Braidwood Area Healthy Community Coalition and the Wilmington Coalition for a Healthy Community both work closely with the Rapid Response Team, which provides Narcan and information at coalition events.

“We got our grant to extend our recovery coach program for another year... as well as more support for our Rapid Response Team. Those are two earmarks, that’s a huge influx of resources that make me feel comfortable that we’ve got money for another year, so that’s exciting,” Dr. Kathleen Burke, Director of Substance Use Initiatives for Will County, told members of the Braidwood coalition on March 14.

The Rapid Response project consists of a team of peers in recovery who work to reduce overdose deaths by delivering naloxone to high-risk areas for opioid use and respond to peaks in overdoses.

This team also provides linkages for individuals seeking substance use disorders treatment and short-term housing while awaiting admission to care. With the increase in overdose deaths due to fentanyl, naloxone distribution plays a critical role in saving lives.

“Opioid use and deaths remain a priority in Will County,” said Bertino-Tarrant. “This funding will empower our Rapid Response Team to save lives and connect people with the treatment to support their path to recovery.”

Funding for the Will County Behavioral Health Workforce Project will assist that project as it continues to provide career training, supportive services, and educational resources to individuals, including veterans, recovering from substance use disorder and provides entry-level jobs to participants through local community organizations.

“The provision in the appropriations package to expand the Will County Behavioral Workforce Pipeline project is a necessary step in helping Illinois citizens who have suffered from addiction reenter the workforce,” Senator Dick Durbin said. “People recovering from addiction should have the help they need to begin working again, and this expansion will provide career training, supportive services, and educational resources. The additional funding to distribute naloxone will help save lives by preventing opioid overdoses.”

The project specifically provides career training for entry-level jobs as recovery coaches/peer specialists for community organizations.

The initiative addresses the shortage of behavioral health treatment providers in Will County and reduces barriers for people in recovery from a substance use disorder (including veterans) return to the workforce.

The Will County Office of Substance Use Initiatives, in collaboration with Will County Workforce Services Division and Governors State University, will provide career training, supportive services, and educational resources to individuals negatively impacted by a substance use or mental health problem who are seeking to reenter the workforce.

The third project included in the $975,000 allocation is a $500,000 for improvements within the Southeast Joliet Sanitary District to ensure safe drinking water and sanitary systems in the district in Joliet Township.

“This funding is a significant investment in the health and safety of our communities,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “I am thankful for the efforts of Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin who continue to champion for the needs of Will County.”