July 30, 2024
Media Contact: Meagan Helmick, PhD, MPH, CHES®, Health Director, meagan.helmick@vdh.virginia.gov
Mount Rogers Health District Benefits From $1 Million Regional Partnership Grant
MARION, Va.– Through a cooperative partnership, a grant totaling $1,131,318 has been awarded to Smyth County, VA, who will serve as the fiscal agent for the funds allocated by the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA). Mount Rogers Health District, one of the sub-recipients, will use the funding to purchase a mobile health services unit. The application was submitted to the Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) on behalf of the health district’s eight localities including Smyth, Wythe, Bland, Carroll, Grayson, and Washington counties, along with the cities of Bristol and Galax. Also included as part of the application was the partnership with the Highlands and Mount Rogers Community Service Boards.
With each of the localities contributing towards the purchase of a mobile unit for the Mount Rogers Health District, the grant will be used to purchase a second mobile unit. Both are expected to be in operation later this year and will service the southwest Virginia communities’ multiple days a week.
“One of the strengths of the application we submitted was the partnership between both community service boards and the health department as they will come together to provide vital mental and health services to our residents,” according to Shawn Utt, Smyth County Administrator. “We are proud that this effort will serve to reduce silos and strengthen the safety net within our community.”
Once fully operational, the mobile units will transport a nurse and/or mid-level provider such as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant to provide clinical and substance use preventive services within the communities. The Mount Rogers Health District will also staff the unit with a community health worker or peer recovery specialist to provide education and support to ensure that individuals are able to be referred should additional services be needed. In addition, traditional health care such as immunizations, testing and treatment of communicable diseases will be offered. To reduce the negative consequences of drug use, modified comprehensive harm reduction services will also be available in specific areas.
Both the Mount Rogers and the Highlands Community Service Boards will staff the mobile unit with behavioral health professionals, offer telehealth services when needed, and connect individuals with various community-based behavioral health services and support systems.
“This regional cooperative partnership will help us to address substance use disorder at its roots, reduce the strain on resources, improve client outcomes, and foster a healthier, more resilient community overall,” said Meagan Helmick, PhD, MPH, CHES®, Director for Mount Rogers Health District. Ultimately, the goal will be to ensure that no member of the community is left behind in receiving critical preventive health and mental care because of barriers like transportation limitations, rural isolation, and traditional hours of operation.”
In 2021, the General Assembly established the OAA to oversee the largest portion of the state’s total settlement funds. The restrictions require that funds be used for opioid abatement and remediation efforts.
The OAA approved a total of $22.7 million through their annual grant awards. This was the first major round of awards presented by OAA to communities throughout the commonwealth. A total of $1.1 billion will be awarded to Virginia cities and counties by 2041. The funding is from litigation against manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies that were alleged to have contributed to the opioid crisis.