Programs Poised to Fight Opioid Epidemic in Ocean County

Programs Poised to Fight Opioid Epidemic in Ocean County / The Sandpaper / March 6, 2024

By Victoria Ford

The Ocean County Opioid Advisory Council awarded in December five competitive contracts to nonprofit agencies that will address substance use prevention and early intervention, innovative substance use programming, care management for individuals with substance use disorder, and comprehensive wraparound services.

The money comes down through Ocean County from the national opioid settlements, which will issue annual payouts of about $900,000 to the county over the next 18 years.

The council held a public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 29 to hear from the agencies awarded contracts about how they intend to use the funds.

The county Board of Commissioners approved $1.1 million in contracts to the Ocean County Board of Health for $200,000; Hope Sheds Light for $100,000; Preferred Behavioral Health Group for $409,559; Sea Change Recovery Community Organization for $148,270; and the Mental Health Association of New Jersey for $242,171. Presently $2.6 million is sitting in the bank, with the $1.1 million allocated for the contract awards.

Contracts are for one year with the option to renew. The funding is specific to opioids and is paid on a reimbursement basis to ensure proper use.

The proposal review committee included three Ocean County employees from the departments of Management and Budget and Human Services, as well as four volunteers: Janit Buccella, Jeanine Feaman, Richard Narcini and Long Beach Island’s own Bob Selfridge.

Up first to present opioid-epidemic-fighting measures was council chair Kim Reilly on behalf of the Ocean County Health Department, whose “We’re Not Buying It 2.0” is a prevention, evidence-based program with more than a decade-long record of success by way of media literacy.

Since the pandemic, she explained, “so much is going on with mental health, substance use and at-risk behavior” among Ocean County’s youth. The health department partnered with We’re Not Buying It, a “homegrown” program created by the Middlesex County Wellspring Center for Prevention, with its efficacy tested by Rutgers University.

Targeting sixth-graders, the program helps them navigate and interpret the images and glamourized versions of alcohol and other substances on the internet and in TV and movies, and to identify better healthy coping skills. The message: turn to trusted adults for information rather than YouTube or TikTok.

OCHD has made contact with intermediate schools in Toms River and Plumsted, and letters and calls are going out to set up outreach efforts for this or next school year, Reilly said. The data are key, she noted. The goals are reductions in student absences and truancy, disciplinary actions, and first-onset alcohol, cannabis and nicotine-vape consumption.

“Sixth grade is really a pivotal year,” she said.

Hope Sheds Light Program Director Emily Esposito presented that organization’s customized Pathways to Workplace Wellness program, which offers opioid resources to employees and their families. Users create a confidential Workplace Wellness account to access a comprehensive vetted resource guide, an education section, research on different approaches to wellness and recovery pathways, and coaches and support groups.

To be effective, the program requires buy-in from employers, top-down (for example, EARL company last year got inserts with pay stubs to access the free confidential portal and started a support group) and then collaboration with higher-ups to introduce on-staff ambassadors to the workforce.

With an eye toward shifting workplace culture to be more supportive of recovery from substance use disorder, “Our goal is to help foster recovery-friendly workplaces by lowering the stigma related to addiction,” according to the literature.

The program is “designed to wrap supports around people that are working,” Esposito said.

Hope Sheds Light was created in 2013 by three fathers who lost their sons to addiction.

“In 2021, HSL acquired Recovery Advocates for the Shore (RAFTS), founded by Nicole Federici, to expand its recovery services throughout Ocean and Monmouth counties. Through this acquisition, HSL’s goal is to create a community where non-judgmental support is standard and multiple pathways to recovery are embraced. HSL will continue to expand its services to young people and families in recovery by offering programming that will engage adolescents and young parents to effectively end the generational cycle of addiction.”

Sea Change RCO has a tiny staff of three and about 20 devoted volunteers, founder Elizabeth Burke Beaty said. “We allow all of our members to define recovery for themselves,” with no requirements or barriers. Sea Change members and supporters build recovery capital by showing up at events, and by working on the front lines to help people with substance use issues who, for example, may be stuck living in houses full of people doing drugs, she explained.

Sea Change is a state-certified harm reduction center, working with Prevention Resource Network and friends in Atlantic City, Beaty said. “We care about anyone you know who is using. We want to keep them alive, we want to keep them out of trouble, and we want to keep them as safe as possible.” The Barnegat office provides life-sustaining supplies, overdose-reversing naloxone, food, clothing and other essentials to meet whatever needs arise.

The “front lines” might mean showing someone how to clean a xylazine wound, or showing them the way to a better life.

The last weekend of February, Sea Change launched two public member-based events: a journaling workshop and a walk/run meetup at the Barnegat Branch Trail with CRAP (Criminals, Recovering Addicts and Punx) Running Crew. Since then the agency has “been inundated with calls,” Beaty said. Surfing lessons, more trail walks, birdwatching and other unconventional recovery-supportive activities are on the horizon.

“Our goal is to reach those who are scared to reach out,” she added.

The RCO is also “amping up data” collection, she said, thanks to help from a new operations and development director on board.

Preferred Behavioral Health Program Counselor Athyna Fox presented “Foster Hope for the Future,” which officially launched Feb. 12 and expands on existing integrated services currently available in Lakewood, Barnegat and Toms River to provide all levels of outpatient care, clinical services and education.

Clients are referred to Hope Sheds Light for services such as sober living access, 24/7 peer support, family support, individual and group counseling and medication management.

Going forward, Preferred will continue to link clients with Hope Sheds Light to reach 100 clients. The two organizations will stay in communication via weekly meetings to collaborate on mutual cases to provide seamless services and continuity of care to clients.

Preferred Behavioral Health has hired two full-time clinicians to provide services and serve as liaisons to Hope Sheds Light staff. New clients undergo a thorough intake to identify the level of care needed, and Preferred connects them with clinical care and a case manager at HSL for additional resources. Various phases help them get stabilization, vocational training and employment and follow-up care and maintenance.

“It’s important for them to feel held, and understood, and seen on both ends, so this partnership allows us to do that,” Fox said.

The Mental Health Association of New Jersey in Ocean offers the “MORE Project,” which stands for “Moms Offering Recovery and Experience,” serving 100 participants annually. The program incorporates skill building and education, prenatal peer support for pregnant people in recovery, ongoing peer recovery care management, recovery housing assistance, participant-specific assistance, and group facilitation. Each participant receives one-on-one assistance for six to nine months, as well as groups and classroom activities and direct linkages to ancillary services.

Locations include Manahawkin, Toms River, various outreach sites throughout the county, and virtual engagements based on need. Running the show are mothers in recovery who have overcome and still face struggles. Staff work with participants to create goal and barrier plans. After exiting the program, participants have access to volunteer and intern opportunities.

At the end of the meeting Beaty raised one additional concern, asking if Ocean County and its municipalities talk to each other about the spending of opioid settlement funds. Towns are receiving separate payouts and are allowed to spend the funds in the ways they feel best serve residents. As an example, Beaty said, Stafford Township has opted to spend its opioid settlement money to hire two more police officers, which may not necessarily align with the work and goals of her and others’ local organizations.

County officials said the towns are invited but not mandated to attend meetings and focus groups to participate in the bigger picture.

Beaty said she feels municipalities need more accountability and public input.

“We want them to answer to us, too,” she said. “They are our elected officials.”

The next public meeting of the council will be held Thursday, May 30 at 10 a.m. in the Ocean County Administration Building, Room 116.