03/28/2024
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Eastpointe MCO, the managing behavioral healthcare provider for Bladen county announced on Monday, Bladen County is the recipient of a $50,000 grant for the year 2020. The grant will be used for Eastpointe’s county initiative for the Impact of Opioid Use and/or Whole Person Integrated Care.

“We are excited for our expanded partnership in serving Bladen’s residents,” Victoria Jackson, Chief of External Operations at Eastpointe stated.

“I am tickled to get it,” Chairman of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners said.

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners formed and leads a community Opioid Task

Force to help end the opioid crisis. The task force is made up of law enforcement, Health Department, Social Services, judicial system, District Attorney’s office, Effected Families and faith based organizations. An Alternative Diversion Program has been developed to reduce long term and revolving incarcerations of drug addiction violators, according to the group.

The task force developed the S.A.I.L. Program and is currently working on a strategic plan. The plan is scheduled to be completed in October.

The S.A.I.L. program has already assisted citizens of Bladen County with their opioid addictions seek assistance. Eastpointe’s $50,000 grant awarded to the task force for 2019 assisted with this program. The grant funded treatment for residents at Southeastern Carolina Crossroads, a faith based treatment facility in Bladen County.

The goal of the Substance Abuse Initiative Liaison (SAIL) Program (alternative jail diversion) is to prevent individuals from entering or penetrating deeper into the criminal justice system.

The purpose of this program is to offer help to the citizens of Bladen County with Substance Abuse issues. It is designed as a voluntary based plan in which the citizen can contact the Sheriff’s Office and request help with substance treatment. The Designated person will arrange Detox treatment and subsequent long term treatment.

The program includes the following steps:

Citizens request help voluntary from the Sheriff’s Office

Liaison conducts a short interview with patient to determine what type of treatment is needed

Liaison contacts surround area Detox facilities and enrolls patient in that treatment center which usually last about a week.

During the time the patient is attending Detox the liaison will search for a long term treatment facility.

At the completion of Detox (if needed) the Liaison will arrange the admission into a long term facility. The Liaison will also work with family for transportation to such facility.

The SAIL Program will use the funds provided from the grant as the initial entry fee in to the long term facility.

In the event that an individual is found with narcotics on their person who then requests treatment as an avenue to escape jail, they will have to be charged and once that court procedure is concluded they will be allowed to enter this treatment process if they request it.

If citizens come to the office on their own accord and request treatment and are found to have paraphernalia or narcotics on them they will not be charged, since they are actively seeking help.

The Eastpointe grant funds this year will assist in the S.A.I.L. program as well. The funds will be distributed as need to local recovery efforts such as Celebrate Recovery, Southeastern Carolina Crossroads, Teen Challenge and to implement the strategic plan.

Related Article:

https://bladencounty.org/eastpointe-holds-honoring-the-silence-event-for-overdose-awareness-month/

 

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