Milwaukee, WI – The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) has been notified of a one year, $500,000 grant extension, totaling 1.35 Million Dollars from the National Association of City County Health Officials (NACCHO) to continue to fight the opioid epidemic. On November 8, 2019, NACCHO announced that MHD has been awarded $735,000 for implementing overdose prevention strategies at the local level. In conjunction with the Milwaukee Fire Department’s (MFD) Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative (MORI), Milwaukee will be able to continue to combat the opioid epidemic on a larger scale. “This funding will increase our ability to help and support those struggling with addiction and the people who need and care about them,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “The community-based care provided through the MORI partnership helps heal the wounds of addiction, and I am pleased to see that work expanded.”
MORI is a collaboration between MHD and MFD, along with remarkable peer support specialists from Community Medical Services (CMS), Wishope and CleanSlate who implement activities that address Milwaukee County challenges related to drugs overdoses with the goals of: decreasing overdose fatalities, increasing access to evidence based treatment, and decreasing emergency department usage. Sponsored by Alderman Michael J. Murphy and overseen by Captain Michael Wright of MFD, MORI is dedicated to increasing its capacity to respond effectively to the opioid epidemic by working with community partners and rolling out evidence based strategies at the local level. “The building blocks that bring us to this point start with the Milwaukee Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Program and the faith placed in us by elected leaders. Our plan was to see what “we” as a community in its entirety could do. We now see that the collaboration works and saves lives!” advised Captain Michael Wright MIH Manager
Details:
- Original grant timeline 11/8/2019-7/31/2020
- Grant extension through 7/31/2021
In addition to the original scope of work, new plans for grant-funded activities include:
- Address both fatal and nonfatal overdoses
- Focus on trauma and trauma related death
- Provide continuum of care and resources for families
- Devote efforts on preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
MHD and grant partners are dedicated to focusing on the prevention of overdoses in Milwaukee County and eradication of the opioid epidemic that is devastating our communities. According to Dr. Jeanette Kowalik, Commissioner of Health, “On behalf of the City of Milwaukee Health Department, we are elated to receive not only a grant extension but additional funding to continue to work of MORI in partnership with MFD as well as many other partners. Despite being in a pandemic, we still need to address the opioid epidemic that has been compounded due to uncertainty about the future, loss of hope, un/underemployment, and limited access to mental health services and supports.”
City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force (CCHOCTF)
The City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force (CCHOCTF) (City of Milwaukee Resolution, Common Council File Number 161061, passed January 18, 2017) is charged with investigating and making recommendations regarding ways to ensure long-term health and safety of City and County residents by reducing fatal and nonfatal overdose from misuse of opioids, heroin, and synthetic analogs, and cocaine (in both powder and crack form) through data-driven public health prevention approaches. The CCHOCTF represents multiple sectors from city, county, and state agencies and those with lived experiences of substance abuse. The CCHOCTF meets regularly to gather information and create items to guide the community in addressing substance abuse.
Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative
The Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative (MORI) is a community-wide approach, which operationalizes the Milwaukee City-County Heroin, Opioid, and Cocaine Task Force (CCHOCTF) recommendations. The goal initially is to focus on decreasing fatalities by utilizing diverse databases to uncover trends, streamline access to treatment, and provide education in schools.
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