Salisbury University Receives $1.98 Million Grant to Establish Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University recently received a four-year, $1.98 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to establish the Salisbury University Eastern Shore Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program (OIFSP). 

Its goal is to increase the number of Opioid Navigator Community Health Workers who are prepared to work with families who are impacted by opioid use disorders (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs) in high-need and high-demand areas. 

“Our dedication to quality health education is essential to improving the health care in our communities,” said Dr. Deneen Long-White, project director, principal investigator and SU assistant professor of community health. “This grant will provide vital resources for the Eastern Shore and expand efforts to combat the growing opioid epidemic.”

Over the course of four years, the program will develop educational support and experiential field training opportunities for 78 OIFSP paraprofessional trainees. Their efforts will target children, adolescents, and transitional age youth whose parents are impacted by OUD and other SUDs, and their family members who are in guardianship roles. 

Key activities will include recruiting trainees, providing training with an internship and in-service apprenticeship working on an interdisciplinary team, and incentives for remaining in the program through Level II training.

“It is important to address all aspects of opioid and substance abuse,” said Teresa Simmons, co-principal investigator and director of SU’s Center for Healthy Communities. “This program allows us to thoroughly prepare health workers for all the challenges families face when dealing with these disorders.” 

For more information visit the Center for Healthy Communities website.