A two-way street: Partnership engagement in addressing opioid use disorder

UTK Public Health: Laurie L. Meschke, Catherine Miller, Tamarra SpaldingRescue 180: Rev. Deborah Schultz and Keith Schultz

October 29, 2019

Gratitude

This presentation was supported by Grant Numbers G25RH32484 and GA1RH33552 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of two awards totaling $1,200,000. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Overview

• OUD and RCORP-ETC• Community Engaged Scholarship• UTK contributions• Community contributions• UTK benefits• Community benefits• Lessons learned• Next steps

OUD

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019)

OUD in the US

OUD in East TN

(RCORP-ETC, 2018-2019)

OUD in East TN

RCORP-ETC

• Rural• Communities• Opioid• Response• Programfor• East• Tennessee• Consortium

RCORP-ETC Region

Community Engaged Scholarship

• Recognizes community as aspect of collective and individual identity with emotional connection• Capitalizes on community strengths and resources• Facilitates equitable collaboration throughout project to foster

empowerment• Promotes co-learning and capacity building for all partners• Balances research and action to benefit all partners

Israel, B.A., et al (2008). Chapter 3: Critical issues in developing and following CBPR principles, pp. 47-66. As in M. Minkler & N. Wallerstein (Eds.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Community Engaged Scholarship

• Emphasizes health issue of local concern with an ecological lens • Involves systems development via cyclical/iterative process• Disseminates findings and knowledge incorporating all

partners• Requires long-term process and commitment to

sustainabilityIsrael, B.A., et al (2008). Chapter 3: Critical issues in developing and following CBPR principles, pp. 47-66. As in M. Minkler & N. Wallerstein (Eds.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

RCORP-ETC Value Statement

To eradicate opioid use disorder, the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - East Tennessee Consortium strives to create healthy communities by enhancing health promotion and prevention, collaboration, and access to health services and care. Together these efforts will promote safety, physical and emotional wellness, and economic security.

RCORP-ETC Working Groups

Analysis

Strategic Planning

Workforce Development

Sustainability

UTK contributions

• Zoom videoconferencing capabilities• Secondary data• UT library system• Data analysis and software• Graduate student support• Faculty content and method expertise (proposal writing to

dissemination)• Website development• Administrative support

Community Engagement Opportunities

• Consortium meetings• Working groups• Town Hall Meetings• Feedback• Community survey (710 respondents)• Key informants roundtable discussions (6 tables)

Community Contributions

• Consortium• 88 members• 22 organizations

• Knowledge and expertise about local OUD concerns• Ability to interpret findings• Quality relationships with community members and leaders• Encourage engagement of new voices• Highly motivated due to personal experience and/or expertise

UTK Benefits

• Community voice guides efforts• Connection and grounding

• Expedited timeline possible through partnerships• Sharing of time and resources

• Local approaches and views related to OUD• Ability to capitalize on local resources and expertise• Professional development of graduate students (various skills and

conference presentations)

Community Benefits

• Data and information useful for grant proposals• Empowerment• Strategic plan product• Ready to put into place to create change in communities

• Networking• Skill development (e.g., leadership, software tools, facilitations)• Collaboration – AKA Connecting the dots

Lessons Learned

• Time• Utilize work groups, create a timeline for those groups, and stick with it• Respect time and boundaries of all parties by conducting communication

online through email and phone conferences; work groups meet monthly over the phone and full Consortium gathered in-person quarterly

• Recruitment & participation• All involved were highly motivated, personally invested, and ready to be a

part of something impactful

Lessons Learned

• Benefits of asking for help• Identified great meeting places in the community• Incorporated community members into training events• Enhanced recruitment and marketing strategies• Increased participation and sense of ownership

• Flexibility is key• Schedules ebb and flow; capitalize on involvement when feasible• Seeking assistance via email is helpful but meetings are more efficient

Interested in more information?

Please contact Laurie L. Meschke at LLMeschke@utk.eduDeborah or Keith Schultz at Rescue180@yahoo.com