Evaluation of the Oconee County COSSUP Initiative (2023-2026) BJA 15PBJA-23-GG-02395-COAP Grant uri icon

abstract

  • The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) located in Northwest South
    Carolina requests $1,000,000 from US Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2023 Comprehensive
    Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-based Program (Category 1c: Competition ID C-BJA-
    2023-00019-PROD) to implement and deliver a law enforcement led diversion to treatment
    initiative in Oconee County (Population of 78,607, designated 100% rural). Per the objectives of
    Category 1, the project will develop a collaborative comprehensive local response to the county’s substance use and misuse problem through synthesizing grant resources with existing practices
    and personnel to support planned activities per allowable use of funds to: 1) develop a law
    enforcement deflection and diversion program through enhanced training and the establishment
    of a community drop-off center (21% of budget); 2) enhance alternative-to-incarceration
    treatment program (11%); 3) deliver evidence-based substance use disorder treatment including
    MAT, counseling, and connections with certified peer support specialists both in the detention
    center and through the community drop-off center (11%); 4) support recovery by providing
    transitional housing and peer support services (14%); and 5) embed a treatment coordinator into
    OCSO to screen for substance use disorders, provide services and referrals, and to help divert
    individuals from the criminal justice system (22%). To aid in implementing this plan, recovery
    community stakeholders from the county, including law enforcement agencies, community
    behavioral and mental health services, addiction services, and hospital and emergency services
    will be included on the multidisciplinary Oconee Recovery Coordinating Council (ORCC) to
    participate in ongoing meeting sessions with the project team and serve as a permanent standing
    body with the mission of increasing cooperation and collaboration to sustain substance use
    disorder treatment and recovery efforts (see MOUs). The project will address issues related to racial equity and the removal of barriers to access and
    opportunity for communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and
    adversely affected by inequality through providing impartial policing training for law
    enforcement and treatment services targeted to underserved minority communities . Additionally, there will be a strong research-practitioner partnership with the Center for Criminal Justice and Social Research at Clemson University to provide a scientific mixed methods program evaluation to provide empirical feedback for program improvement and dissemination of process and outcome findings to the law enforcement, and research communities.

sponsor award ID

  • 15PBJA-23-GG-02395-COAP