Executive Director Message
You hear it all the time in this line of work, but partnerships are vitally important. As I settle into my new role as executive director, I am reminded again and again that our mission, our programs, and our successes are linked inextricably with our partners. Every CareReach program represents a unique partnership with an organization that is aligned with our mission and its goal of addressing gaps in whole-person, coordinated healthcare. 

This is true whether it’s through Community Health Work at Hot Springs Health Program, Hep-C Bridge Counseling with Buncombe County Health & Human Services, or Peer Support at any one of five different McDowell County agencies working to address the impact of substance use disorder, to name just a few. 
I am immensely grateful for the willingness of our partners to come together to serve others, and for the spirit of trust and teamwork that I hear communicated on a near-daily basis.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter, and if you know of a way we can be a better or more effective partner in your community, please reach out to us and share your thoughts. -Joseph Jones
TRPA and MATCH Participate in Community Resource Fairs
For the first time, Toe River Project Access (TRPA) will join forces with partner organizations in Yancey and Mitchell counties to provide community resource fairs in August and September.
 
While the McDowell Access to Care and Health (MATCH) team has hosted numerous resource fairs in recent years, this is TRPA’s first foray into this form of outreach. 
“This is the first year TRPA has coordinated resource fairs, and we’re excited about the new and interesting possibilities it will open up,” says Jordan Girard, CareReach program manager. “MATCH has been doing these events for several years already, and TRPA has learned a lot from Amy Stevens and her team on how to create a successful event.”
MATCH Joins With Marion East Community Forum for Health and Resource Fair
Recently McDowell Access to Care & Health (MATCH) partnered with the Marion East Community Forum to host a Community Health and Resource Fair with the Marion Tailgate Market. The atmosphere was positive, uplifting, and hopeful, as attendees were invited to receive fresh vegetables, free hot dogs, local honey, and handmade items from local artisans, as well as the opportunity to find needed community resources.
The event provided relief for those experiencing food insecurity, as between MATCH and the Marion East Community Forum, 150 $10 gift certificates were distributed, allowing community members to purchase fresh local produce, baked goods, and more. Additionally, the first 100 guests were provided with bags of cleaning supplies and personal care items. 
In keeping with MATCH’s goal of working toward a McDowell County where all people have equitable access to the care and resources they need to be healthy, the resource fair featured access to more than 30 community vendors sharing valuable information around the issues of mental health, substance use disorder, employment, continuing education, healthcare access, and more.
MATCH Program Manager Amy Stevens expressed her thanks to all participants for making the day a success, “Folks were fed, farmers and crafters at the Market were paid, and our guests were connected with the resources to help them be healthy and well. All in all, it was a great day!”

The MATCH team’s next event will be a “Back to School Bash” in collaboration with West Marion Community Forum on August 24, 2023, and will be from 3:30-5:00 p.m. at Addie's Chapel. (201 Ridley St, Marion, NC).
Teaming Up Provides a “Win-Win” for the TRPA Community
Vendors from a variety of local community and government organizations have been invited to attend the events TRPA will be hosting this fall. Both afternoon events will feature giveaways and resources for county residents of all ages, as well as local food trucks, and an inflatable course for kids.
“Both the Yancey County and Mitchell County events will open up and expose some wonderful resources in the area that otherwise are hidden treasures for those who are underinsured and those from low-income households who need healthcare or legal aid,” says TRPA Program Coordinator Miki Pontorno. “We’ll also offer information about career guidance, senior citizen care, VITA tax preparation services, and transportation, as well as navigators for ACA Marketplace and more.”
Yancey County Health and Resource Event:
The first event will be held Thursday, August 17, as TRPA and the Yancey County Health Department come together to host a combination Community Resource and Health Fair from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Yancey County Health Department in Burnsville. (202 Medical Campus Drive, Burnsville, NC.)
Mitchell County Health and Resource Event: 
On September 14, TRPA will work with Tractor Food & Farms to host a combination Mitchell County Health and Resource Event from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Tractor Food & Farms’ new location (10992 NC-226, Spruce Pine, NC).
TRPA is committed to reducing health disparities and linking individuals to health-related resources, while Tractor Food & Farms is a not-for-profit food hub dedicated to reducing food insecurity by providing community-grown food and produce to local foodbanks and food relief organizations throughout Western North Carolina. Their mission is “to increase access to community-grown food by empowering farmers and consumers alike, reconnecting people with agriculture for a healthier community, environment, and economy.” 
MATCH and TRPA are both working towards equitable access to care and increasing community collaboration. As TRPA begins its participation in local resource fairs, MATCH continues with its tradition of working with local community partners throughout McDowell County to provide support, resources, education, and encouragement for Western North Carolina residents. CareReach is honored to support both TRPA and MATCH as they collaborate with partners to make a difference in our mountain communities.
Christine Sipe Provides HCV Bridge Counseling at Buncombe County HHS Wednesday Clinics 
CareReach’s Hep C Bridge Counselor Christine Sipe recently began working with individuals who are undergoing Rapid HCV (hepatitis C virus) testing through the Buncombe County Health Department. Offered at the Health Department each Wednesday from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., rapid HCV testing typically provides results within 15 to 20 minutes. A positive test result means a nurse will draw labs to run a confirmatory test, with results usually available within a week. 
Welcome to Wednesdays
Christine is a welcoming, calming presence at the Wednesday clinics as she stands ready to bolster and encourage patients as they await results. When a positive rapid test result is received, she stands ready to connect with the patient.

“I meet the patient, give them my card, and tell them about the Bridge Counseling program; then I let them know that it will take a few days for the lab test results to be received. I make sure they understand that if the test result comes back positive, then I’m ready and willing to offer services; and if the result is negative, I’ll be there to explain that as well.”
Armed With Knowledge and Connected to Treatment Providers
The availability of bridge counseling can be life changing for those facing an HCV diagnosis, as it arms the individual with education and information, helping them navigate treatment, access Hep C medications, and connect with local healthcare providers.

A positive confirmatory test can generate anxiety and worry about an array of issues, including financial concerns. As a bridge counselor Christine is able to advocate for Hep C-positive individuals, connecting them with patient assistance programs such as those offered through MAHEC and Blue Ridge Health. Many of these programs will provide HCV treatment at low or no cost and will work out payment plans with patients.
A Mountain Express article in May highlighted issue of HCV treatment efforts in Buncombe County and included quotes from Christine as well as from CareReach Executive Director Joseph Jones. 
McDowell Impact to Participate in Overdose Awareness Day
McDowell Impact will join in McDowell County’s 6th annual observance of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at 58 Depot Street in Marion.

The event will feature several giveaways, including free T-shirts and hotdogs for the first 250 people. "The highlight will be impactful testimonies from those who have struggled with substance abuse. Community resource booths will offer educational information, and Narcan will be available to take home. 
A Time to Remember and a Time to Act
Billed as “a time to remember and a time to act,” International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. 

According to the IOAD’s website, OverdoseDay.com the 2023 theme, “Recognizing those people who go unseen” is about “acknowledging people in our communities who are affected by overdose but might go unseen in the crisis.”
CareReach and the McDowell Impact team are proud to support this event which remembers those lost to overdose as well as provides advocacy and educational resources, raises awareness of overdose, and spreads the message that overdosing is preventable. 
CareReach Awarded Funds to Establish Recovery Community Center In McDowell County
We are pleased to announce that funds have been awarded to CareReach for the establishing of a Recovery Community Center (RCC) in McDowell County. The generous funding was awarded through Sunrise Recovery and Wellness, who received SAMHSA federal grant monies earmarked for the establishment and enhancement of recovery centers in Western North Carolina.

“A goal of McDowell Impact has always been to build a strong recovery community in McDowell and provide a safe, inclusive space where everyone has access to support and resources,” says McDowell Impact Team Lead Jacqueline Fox. “The Impact Recovery Center is a giant step in achieving that goal, and we couldn’t be more excited!” 
Jacqueline and McDowell Impact team members are hard at work preparing for the opening of this much-needed space, visiting other recovery community centers in the Sunrise cohort for ideas and insights as they develop programming for the McDowell center.

“At this time we anticipate the center beginning to offer services in September 2023,” says CareReach Program Manager Jordan Girard. We are working with Sunrise Recovery & Wellness as well as other centers, and we’ve also taken tours of other RCCs to view their programs and facilities as we work on what our program will look like.”
CareReach and McDowell Impact are grateful for the funds awarded, and we look forward with great anticipation to this new opportunity to better serve individuals in our community who are impacted by substance use.
Donate to CareReach
As a non-profit partner in the health and safety-net system of Western North Carolina, CareReach relies on the generous gifting of donors and supporters to sustain our vital work. While many in our community are faced with barriers and gaps in whole-person, coordinated health care, we work with these individuals to help them reach their health goals; through our collaboration with local partners, we help make clinical and community services more accessible to those who need them. 

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