MONTHLY NEWS AND UPDATES
June 28, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE    
●      Reducing Stigma
●      Community Partner: Inland Empire Harm Reduction
●      Opioid Safe Hospital Designation
●      Resource: Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution How-To Webinar
●      Resource: Webinar on Leading Government and Health Plan Efforts
●      Funding: Practitioner Education Grant
●      4 Things You Can Do to Help
●      IEOCC Workgroups and Meetings

How are you and your organization working to reduce stigma?
Stigma held by providers and other health care professionals towards people dealing with substance use disorders cause many people to avoid treatment, which leads to more overdoses and deaths. We can reduce stigma by becoming aware of our own personal biases , improving our language around addiction, and transforming judgement into empathy . In addition to the three resources linked here, the IEOCC’s new website, coming in July, will feature a stigma resources page with expertly curated information and tools to reduce stigma. 
Take our 3 minute survey-
Help us match speakers with audiences to address the opioid crisis!
As the Inland Empire Opioid Crisis Coalition continues to coalesce our community to address the Opioid crisis in our region, we are excited to move forward in developing an IEOCC "Speakers' Bureau." We are looking to identify both potential speakers as well as those organizations who would like to request a speaker or presenter for specific dates or events.
 
We would be most appreciative if you could please take  3 MINUTES  to complete the attached survey so that we can ensure that we are positioned to provide expertise upon request and expand our efforts to combat this situation that affects us all.
 
Thank you for your time and input! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Joshua Crouch at  crouch-j@iehp.org.
Community Partner at June IEOCC Meeting: Inland Empire Harm Reduction
The IEOCC learned more about the individuals leading harm reduction work in the Inland Empire at the IEOCC quarterly meeting on June 11th, when five representatives of the new local non-profit Inland Empire Harm Reduction presented their work and led a discussion.
 
IEHR is all volunteer public health project working to improve the health and well-being of people affected by drug use in Riverside County, that hopes to be able to expand to serve San Bernardino County as well. Founded in Riverside in 2018 as a grassroots project by former drug users, IEHR participates in community-based harm reduction and connects people to treatment and services. IEHR’s work includes providing free naloxone and training on its use, educating the community on opioids and overdose risk reduction, reducing HIV transmission by providing clean syringes in exchange for used ones, and reducing addiction stigma.
 
IEHR follows and promotes harm reduction, which include respecting the dignity and self-determination of drug users, using person-centered language, and ‘meeting people where they’re at’. IEHR is available to community members around the clock through various methods of contact, including social media messaging. Their distribution of 2000 doses of naloxone has saved lives in Riverside County through community members’ overdose reversals.
 
Currently, their work is funded through small donations, but IEHR is interested in grant funding to increase their capacity and level of service to the community. Moving forward, IEHR is working on becoming authorized as a syringe exchange through the state AIDS agency.
 
For more information on the Inland Empire Harm Reduction and how you can support their ongoing efforts, visit their website here .

Thanks to Noah Geraci, Raphaela O’Meara and colleagues for joining IEOCC on June 11 and leading a great discussion about their work and how we might achieve mutual goals together.
Opioid Safe Hospital Designation 
To reduce opioid related deaths in hospitals, this fall Cal Hospital Compare will designate select hospitals as Opioid Safe for the purpose of supporting and publicly recognizing quality improvement in these selected hospitals. To measure opioid safety across all California hospitals, CHC developed the Opioid Safe Hospital Self-Assessment . Hospitals are encouraged to take this self-assessment survey to analyze their opioid safety performance and learn quality improvement tools. CHC is also offering a free webinar on July 10 that focuses on initiating MAT in hospitals.
Resource: Fentanyl Test Strip Distribution How-To Webinar
Fentanyl test strips are great engagement tools for providers working in a wide range of social service agencies. The Harm Reduction Coalition is providing a free webinar on June 27th that will discuss the basics of fentanyl strip testing and distribution. 
Resource: Webinar on Leading Government and Health Plan Efforts
The National Institute for Health Care Management has a free recorded webinar , Overcoming Opioids: Path to Progress . This webinar discusses ongoing efforts to increase access to evidence-based treatment and guide people on a path to recovery, with federal, health plan and governor’s association responses.
Funding: Practitioner Education Grant  
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications until August 2 for the 2019 Expansion of Practitioner Education Grant . The grant seeks to expand the integration of substance use disorder (SUD) education into the standard curriculum of relevant healthcare and health services education programs. More information and how to apply can be found on the California Opioid Safety Network’s
4 Things You Can Do 

-         Stigma kills. Talk with colleagues, families, and engaged community members about how to reduce stigma against substance users and against MAT. Share resources above.

-        Support and promote Inland Empire Harm Reduction, through partnerships, volunteering, and cash and in-kind donations: https://ieharmreduction.org/get-involved/ .

-        Send names of MAT providers willing to consult with new MAT providers to our Access Workgroup through JR Garcia: Garcia-F@iehp.org .
-        Request an IEOCC expert to present on a related topic in an upcoming meeting for providers or other audiences, through Joshua Crouch: Crouch-J@iehp.org .
IEOCC Workgroups: Join one to collaborate on specific goals to end the crisis

Access to Treatment • Education & Engagement
Safe Prescribing • Prevention & Public Agencies
Email Joshua Crouch, crouch-J@iehp.org , to learn more.

Learn more about the IEOCC and its mission and vision on our website.
ABOUT THE IEOCC
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Vision:  To reduce opioid use and opioid related deaths in the Inland Empire.

Mission:  The Inland Empire Opioid Crisis Coalition (IEOCC) creates effective community collaborations between member organizations and individuals who need help with pain management and addictive disorders. The coalition employs the values and techniques of harm reduction and integrated care.

IEOCC will ensure the following changes occur in their communities:

  • Education and engagement with service providers and community members.

  • Safer prescribing practices for opioid medications.

  • Increased use of medication-assisted addiction treatment (MAT), as part of a comprehensive system of integrated behavioral health care.

  • Increased availability and use of the overdose reversal drug Naloxone.


Thank you for your support in working together to improve the quality of life in the Inland Empire!