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4 <br /> Proposal to Orange County Opioid Advisory Committee <br /> The Lantern Project has been funded by the a grant titled "Opioids and COVID: Supporting Justice <br /> Involved Individuals with SUD (Substance Use Disorder) during COVID"from the NC Department of <br /> Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse <br /> Services since September of 2021.The Criminal Justice Resource Department's grant ends June 30, <br /> 2023. <br /> The Lantern Project is a collaboration between the Criminal Justice Resource Department and <br /> subcontractor Freedom House Recovery Center.The mission is to support justice-impacted individuals <br /> with substance use disorder through evidence-based strategies, interventions and programming <br /> designed to reduce their vulnerability to overdose, death, COVID-19 infection and recidivism. The <br /> mission is to light the path to recovery through harm reduction, diversion, reentry support and <br /> treatment. <br /> CJRD staff includes Diversion Coordinator Megan Pickard and Reentry Coordinator Tauheedah White. <br /> Freedom House staff includes clinician Ashley Machado and a peer support specialist. <br /> Two tracks/strategies—SUD Treatment and Reentry support from Jail and Diversion from the criminal <br /> legal system. Reentry clients are referred from jail and diversion clients are referred from law <br /> enforcement, attorneys,judges, community members, and other CJRD programs. <br /> CJRD does intake and case management and refers to Freedom House or other treatment services, <br /> locally and across the state. Freedom House provides dedicated treatment services like CCAs, MAT <br /> induction and continuation, MRT, peer support, individual and group therapy.The work is client- <br /> centered and individualized for the participant's needs. <br /> Lantern Project funding provides for critical participant needs such as basic supplies via gift cards, cell <br /> phones, medications,transportation, mental health services, and referrals for social service providers to <br /> assist with housing, employment and benefits. <br /> Lantern Project provides harm reduction information and supplies including Naloxone kits,fentanyl test <br /> strips, COVID tests, educational materials and resources. A critical component is the collection of data <br /> and outcomes so that we are able to measure success, recidivism and equity. <br /> Harm reduction "meets people where they are" and recognizes that not everyone is ready or able to <br /> abstain from all substance use.The purpose of harm reduction is to decrease risk and provide non- <br /> judgmental care to people who use substances. <br /> Harm reduction is a key component in North Carolina's Opioid Action Plan and to the Lantern Project. <br /> Some components of harm reduction include safe syringes, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, <br /> compassionate care, and education about resources for treatment. <br /> The Lantern Project Provides: <br /> • Narcan to reverse the effects of opioid overdose <br /> • Free Narcan vending machine at the Orange County Detention Center <br /> • Naloxone kits to all program participants <br /> • Fentanyl test strips to test all substances <br />