Substance Abuse/Drugs

MA DPS is requesting any tools or TTA support that could provide guidance on navigating local politics and their impact on COSSUP implementation. Namely, one subgrantee (the City of Brockton) is navigating harmful, city-level homelessness policies that may impact the substance use/overdose prevention work that the subgrantee plans to implement with COSSUP funding. Site would appreciate and insight on strategies for navigating policies like these as a state entity, when the issues are taking place at the local level.

MA DPS is requesting any tools or TTA support that could be provide guidance on monitoring the progress of all subgrantees effectively, given that each site is at different stages. Site is currently planning on using a combination of work plans and check-ins with subgrantees, but would appreciate any insight on additional strategies to effectively keep track of sites.

2025 regular site engagement call #1 scheduled with Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (FY22) for 3/17/25.

Initial scheduling email sent 10/14. Meeting scheduled for 11/18. As subgrantees have not been awarded, this meeting was run as a standard check-in. They are making good progress in getting subs awarded, we just didn't want to confuse or interfere with their process.

Regular TTA Check-in call was completed. Grantee shared that a new location was launched in collaboration with HealthNet. The team also shared that DeVawn is no longer with the organization. Meeting cadence will be reevaluated to accommodate the broader team since everyone isn’t available on Fridays.

Provided referral to Abt for evaluation support

Conducted grantee needs assessment.

Featured two guest speakers: Kelly Lerner Sanders from the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender and Ann Miller from the Tribal Defenders Office for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes who led a discussion around defense counsel contribution to diversion and engaging defense attorneys in diversion efforts.

Featured two grantees (Macomb County and City of Long Beach) and facilitated presentation on increasing the law enforcement buy-in. The presentation was developed and facilitated by one of the project SMEs.

Featured two grantees (Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office and Augusta County Board of Supervisors) and facilitated presentations from two COSSUP Collaborative partners (Abt and Altarum).