Our partner, Axis Health System, recently received a two-year State Opioid Response (SOR) grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to help community members access medication-assisted treatment for methamphetamine and opioid use disorder.
As part of this grant, Axis is able to provide outreach services to other frontline caregivers in our community to connect with community members who may benefit from assistance. Through the grant, Axis has launched a Peer Recovery Response Program that will provide support to Mercy Regional Medical Center’s inpatient units and Emergency Department patients enabling these patients to receive support and access to Medications for Opioid Use (MOUD), formerly known as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Support at Mercy will be led by Casey White, peer recovery coach and specialist, who has years of experience in the area of recovery. In addition to providing support to Mercy, Casey, who has been a part of the Axis team since May 2020, also provides support to the local jail, Hilltop House and individuals on probation.
“I provide emotional support to clients,” Casey explained. “I walk with them on their journey, meeting them where they are and supporting them as they go.”
“I can help get people into recovery and stay in recovery,” Casey added. “I’m a safe space.”
In addition to providing peer support services, Casey is also an approved dispenser of Narcan and provides training and resources. In some cases, Narcan resources are not immediately available to organizations who have been approved to dispense this medication used to reverse an opioid overdose. Casey can fill this gap until the organization is able to acquire the needed resources.
Axis is also implementing SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery) meetings. The SMART Recovery Program helps people recover from all types of addictive behaviors. Axis is currently hosting these meetings virtually. People do not need to be a client of Axis to participate and Casey is able to refer Mercy patients to the SMART Recovery Program if they express an interest.
“There is a shortage of peer recovery coaches in our community and so the timing for this new resource at Mercy could not have occurred at a better time,” explained Elsa Inman, Mercy’s Community Health Administration Manager. “We are grateful to be able to connect some of our patients with Casey who has been where they are and can support them and connect them to resources in our community.”
“I’m looking forward to working with Mercy and am thankful for the opportunity,” Casey concluded.
