Agenda 05-06-25; 6-a - Opioid Advisory Committee Settlement Fund Use Recommendations

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128 Our program is participant-centered, ensuring trauma-informed care, and dismantling systemic barriers that limit opportunity. Prioritizing anti-racist practices, RSN actively cultivates community support through genuine and caring interactions that affirm inherent worth. Through youth-focused mentoring, RSN strengthens belonging, acceptance, and adult-youth connections, building a foundation for thriving. B. Project Description and Program Sustainability (28 points,page limit: not to exceed 3 pages) Since 2019, RSN has become a vital resource for youth and emerging adults, receiving 200 referrals for one-to-one mentoring or Life Skills support groups, demonstrating the community's trust in our services. To date, 136 young people have actively engaged in our programs, with roughly half benefiting from individualized mentoring and the other half participating in peer-led Life Skills groups. This impact stems from strong partnerships,with most referrals coming from Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils and other youth-focused organizations. Of 165 participants with demographic data, 63.64% identify as male, 36.75% as female, and 0.61% did not disclose their gender identity; over three-quarters (77.9%) identify as BIPOC. These young people demonstrate remarkable resilience despite significant challenges: 75.4%navigate mental health concerns, 61.1% face substance use challenges, 55.6% have experienced trauma, 44.4% have justice system involvement, and 69.4% experience family conflict. Participants in our skill- building program receive an average of 5.25 months of consistent one-to-one support, working weekly with their mentors to build skills, explore wellness, develop positive intentions, and achieve goals related to school/employment(63.1%), self-care (45.8%), and relationships (46.5%). RSN is experiencing significant growth in Orange County, on pace to serve twice as many youth this year. Since July 2024, we've received 25 referrals and supported 13 participants in Individual Skill Building activities. This growth reflects our model's success and the urgent need for our services. RSN is also dedicated to increasing language access with bilingual staff and mentors. Original funding to develop RSN's unique youth-focused program model utilizing specially trained mentors to provide support came through a SAMHSA"Building Communities of Recovery" grant and our work has continued over the years to be supported by local, state and foundation grants including the Orange Count JCPC, OC Outside Agencies, Oak Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of the Carolinas to name a few of our continued supporters. During the proposed grant period between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, we will enhance programming by integrating harm reduction principles and providing overdose prevention training to staff and mentors in addition to continuing to implement our Family Resilience framework. RSN seeks support for program support staff dedicated to intake, training and supervising mentors in harm reduction, and onboarding up to seven new mentors throughout the 2025/26 program year in addition to funds for direct service of our mentors. In turn, our specially trained and supervised mentors will engage 18 at-risk youth and, or youth engaged in substance use, in at least 2 hours of individual mentoring over 16 weeks, creating a safe environment focused on emotional well-being, understanding substance use, and developing harm reduction strategies. This approach prioritizes minimizing harm and stigma. RSN requests funding to support mentors as independent contractors,providing them with valuable training and 2