Public Health and Public Safety Partnerships to Address Substance Use Disorder in Rural Communities

Rural communities face unique challenges in addressing the substance use crisis, but also have many strengths on which they can draw to address the health and safety of their residents — including a strong sense of community and understanding of the need for and benefits of working together to solve a problem. Cross-sector partnerships between public safety, public health, and behavioral health stakeholders — who often serve the same individuals — are crucial for coordinating connections to services as well as identifying barriers to treatment and recovery. By collaborating across systems and agencies, stakeholders in rural jurisdictions can improve can have a meaningful impact on outcomes for people and communities.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Justice Institute, continues to support projects and resources that promote cross-sector partnerships in rural communities to help prevent and treat substance use disorder for justice-involved individuals. This session will highlight innovative strategies employed by Rural Responses to the Opioid Epidemic and Rural Justice Collaborative Innovation Sites. Additional tools, resources and on-going opportunities will also be shared.