Title
Creating a Project Position to Provide Project Coordination for the "Overdose Data to Action" Initiative to Combat Opioid Abuse
Body
The opioid crisis is a public health emergency threatening the wellbeing and lives of individuals who use drugs and impacts communities, first responders, the criminal justice system, child welfare and foster care, and behavioral health systems. In 2018, Dane County experienced 85 opioid-involved deaths, 478 opioid-related hospital visits, and 501 ambulance runs for suspected opioid overdoses.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, established the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) grant to promote strategies and activities that build local capacity to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdoses. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) was awarded an OD2A grant for $191,711 for the period of May 2020 through August 2022.
OD2A will strengthen PHMDC’s ability to collect, analyze, and apply data; enhance linkages to care; build partnerships with public safety and first responders; empower individuals to make safer choices; and support innovative prevention approaches.
PHMDC’s objectives for OD2A include: build and implement a Dane County Overdose Spike Response Plan; increase awareness of the Dane County Behavioral Health Resource Center; increase law enforcement agency collaboration with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP); develop and distribute messaging for those who use illicit drugs about fentanyl in the drug supply, harm reduction strategies, and available treatment and recovery resources; and create an Overdose Response Coalition to translate recommendations from the Overdose Fatality Review Team into action.
PHMDC will provide their expertise as a community convener and in systems change through the project coordination and implementation of OD2A. A newly created 1.0 FTE Public Health Specialist position will coordinate grant activities and ensure communication with all partner agencies.
OD2A intends to increase and sustain PHMDC capacity to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with opioid overdose through changes in policy, procedure, protocol, and partnerships. An evaluation plan will ensure the tracking and documentation of project outputs and deliverables.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that PHMDC is a local health department statutorily required to protect and promote the health of the community; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that PHMDC has determined the OD2A Grant objectives are aligned with health department and county goals of reducing burden of opioids and that the objectives are aligned with health department and county goals of protecting the health of the community; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the OD2A Grant funding will fully support the hiring of a 1.0 FTE staff member within PHMDC to coordinate and collaborate with program staff and community partners. Via this additional capacity, the Public Health Specialist at PHMDC is responsible for activities related to project management, coordination, and day-to-day operations of the project. The Public Health Specialist will play an integral role in developing and fostering the community partnerships needed for the successful implementation, evaluation, and sustainability of the project. The work of this proposed position aligns with the health department, city and county’s goals of improving the health of the community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that PHMDC has received a total of $50,043 in new grant funding in 2020 designated to a Public Health Specialist position beginning June 2020;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that per the Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Madison and Dane County, Public Health employees are employees of Dane County;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED Public Health anticipates that the position will be hired in the second quarter of 2020 and there will be continued and increased funding for 2021 ($85,000) and the first 8 months of 2022 ($56,668).
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that upon adoption of this resolution and approval from the Dane County Board, a 1.0 FTE Public Health Specialist position will be created in the Public Health Madison and Dane County 2020 Operating Budget and the position be noted in the 2020 Operating Budget to reflect that the continuation of the position is contingent upon continued OD2A Grant funding.