Champaign County Reentry Council 4/3

The April meeting of the Champaign County Reentry Council had a presentation on Narcan by the C-U Public Health Department's PROMPT (Partnership to Reduce Opiate Mortality & Promote Training) coalition. Here's the Illinois Department of Human Services description from an older summary of similar programs:

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) provides services in Champaign, Vermilion, Ford, Dewitt, Piatt, Douglas, Edgar, Coles, Clark and Cumberland counties. During 2015, both Champaign and Vermilion Counties had population rates of opiate overdose deaths in excess of 11 per 100,000, which was higher than the Illinois statewide rate.

CUPHD formed a coalition, “Partnership to Reduce Opiate Mortality and Promote Training (PROMPT)”, to direct the expansion of the overdose prevention efforts into the East Central Illinois region. Coalition members include: county health department officials, city police, county sheriff’s officers, emergency departments, drug treatment providers, opiate replacement program providers, mental health providers and pharmacy staff. Bystanders, family and friends of persons who use opiates are prioritized through this project. 

In short, the program helps the community prevent overdose deaths. Their focus is in stopping the epidemic of overdose related deaths as opposed to treatment and continuing care is (a separate critically important matter).

The presentation explained how opiates work and affect the body and how overdoses occur. It provided information on how Narcan interrupts an overdose event and what happens after it is administered. The training they offer includes rescue breathing, as an overdose suppresses normal breathing in the victim. He also explained that it isn't a "Pulp Fiction" shot to the heart, but a normal injection into muscle. There's a nasal spray that's a bit more effective, but unfortunately more expensive. For anyone interested in the program they can contact the C-UPHD here or via the presenter's e-mail: Joe Trotter.


In other business:

The Champaign County Board renewed funding for the Reentry Council at the last County Board meeting and a presentation of the mid-annual report was given at their Committee of the Whole prior.

The most recent data for March was presented. Next month the jail data will likely be ready with a focus on reentry data only. This could help highlight and address a County Board question on the recidivism impact of the program during the Q & A part of the Committee of the Whole presentation.

Rosecrance and CU Fresh Start are partnering to address the overlap of their programs, e.g. a CU Fresh Start participant who recidivates may fall into services provided by Rosecrance.

An idea for a future presentation from those who work regularly at the jail linking people to services was approved and some housekeeping on the bylaws on keeping the council's membership organized and designating the voting representatives of each was approved.


Program update highlights:

First Followers had an update on their GoMAD (Make A Difference) program in its 11th week (of 19) and their drop-ins picking up with the warmer weather. More on the GoMAD program here.

I mentioned the upcoming City of Champaign's City Council study session on the reentry housing issue (date TBD) and the Sheriff's outreach on Courthouse lockers.

Champaign County Health Care Consumers highlighted problems due to a dispute between the Federal government and some sort of over-payment to the State of Illinois causing problems for local organizations that help people on SNAP benefits (food assistance). The Shriver Center of Poverty Law is apparently trying to fight for those affected. I don't know if this related to ongoing attempts to change SNAP benefit rules or in addition to it. More on Illinois ongoing battles with the federal government at the Chicago Tribune here.