What’s been happening with the HCS?

After another successful Opioid Task Force meeting on Monday, August 15, the HEALing Communities Study project — a Cortland County initiative to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths by 40% over 18 months — is now focused on activities happening within targeted workgroups.  Those include:

Communications Workgroup

This workgroup is overseeing the 3 communication campaigns that will be part of the HEALing Communities Study. The first campaign focused on naloxone and fentanyl awareness will launch in October and run until December. The other 2 campaigns will be focused on Medications for OUD. We are looking for additional members with interests in communications and marketing. The next meeting is Thursday, September 1 at 1pm over Zoom, and will be meeting frequently up until mid-October.

Naloxone Workgroup

This workgroup has been meeting for 2 years but has been on hiatus for a bit. It is reconvening and meeting on Wednesday, September 7 at 9am over Zoom. This group is focused on choosing strategies that would allow Cortland County to at least double its naloxone distribution in order to meet our goal of reducing overdose deaths by 40%. This group will meet at least monthly.

MOUD Workgroup

This workgroup will be meeting for the first time on Friday, September 9 at 11am over Zoom. The group will be exploring and recommending strategies to increase access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder and also increase retention on these life-saving medications. It will be meeting twice a month this fall.

Lived Experience Workgroup

We are still looking to hear from people with current or past lived experience of opioid use to learn more about their experience with accessing services and hear what they think can be improved in the Cortland area! This group provides vital input and feedback to guide the overall HEALing Communities Study project. This group meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Wishing Wellness Center (24 Church Street, Cortland). Learn more here.

To learn more or join any of these workgroups, you can fill out this form or contact Aster Parrot, the project’s Community Engagement Coordinator at ‪aparrott@cortlandareactc.org or (607) 218-5488‬ (call or text). Learn more at healingcortland.org.