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Published on January 13, 2017

Cape Cod Healthcare Designates Up to $2.5 million to Address Substance Use Disorders

Cape Cod Healthcare will distribute $2.5 million in grants over the next three years to programs that treat and prevent substance use disorder. The grants will support key community programs that are addressing substance use intervention and treatment, and education and prevention efforts.

The grants distributed in the first year amount to $874,000 and were awarded to Gosnold on Cape Cod, Duffy Health Center, Community Health Center of Cape Cod and Outer Cape Health Services. Another $150,000 were distributed to various Community Benefits programs related to substance use and co-occurring mental health issues.

The remaining $1.5 million of the CCHC investment is in an established fund at the Cape Cod Foundation for distribution in years two and three. CCHC will closely monitor the program outcomes prior to each year’s distribution to ensure the desired results are being achieved.

“The opioid addiction crisis has grown dramatically over the last few years, and is affecting the day-to-day operation of our hospitals and tearing at the very fiber of our community,” said Michael K. Lauf, President and CEO of Cape Cod Healthcare. “We recognize that while we at Cape Cod Healthcare are not addiction specialists, we can make an impact by supporting those in our community who are. Our partners at the Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Gosnold On Cape Cod, Duffy Health Center and Outer Cape Health Services are developing impressive programs to help those suffering from substance use disorder, and making sure our children never fall prey to the dangers of opioids and other drugs. We are proud to support their efforts.”

This new commitment from CCHC supports and expands upon the overall strategy that began in 2014 to address the substance abuse problem on Cape Cod. The efforts started with an investment of more than $500,000 to create – along with the Kelley Foundation and the Palmer and Jane D. Davenport Foundation - the Cape Cod Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Fund.

“We will continue to work with and support the governor, our Legislative delegation, municipal officials and the Barnstable County Human Services Department and the Regional Substance Abuse Council to develop more and stronger programs to address this scourge that has affected the lives of so many people on Cape Cod,” Lauf said.

With this new grant progam, Cape Cod Healthcare is expanding its existing collaboration with the Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Duffy Health Center and Outer Cape Health Centers to support those who are struggling with substance use disorder. These federally qualified health centers provide care to patients through Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) models, which support the patients’ physical and mental health needs.

The new CCHC grant program recognizes a two-pronged approach to substance use disorders: Education and prevention efforts, and short-term intervention and treatment programs.

Grants awarded in the first year include:

Gosnold On Cape Cod - $252,000 for:

  • Overdose Prevention Program with local law enforcement. The grant will support the collaboration between Cape-based police departments and Gosnold to provide rapid access to treatment for individuals who recently experienced an opioid-related overdose. Gosnold assists the individual with the process of entering treatment and/or provides support services to their family.

The program has demonstrated promising outcomes in helping people enter treatment and reduce repeat overdoses. CCHC also provided funding during the program’s pilot phase in 2015.

  • Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital Recovery Specialists. Gosnold will provide recovery navigator services at FH and CCH who will remove barriers and obstacles, and serve as a guide to patients seeking and navigating substance use treatment options and community resources.
  • Youth Prevention and Education Efforts. Gosnold will conduct substance use prevention and education programs targeted at school-aged youth and their parents across Barnstable County. Programs may include, but are not limited to, school-based counseling, community awareness events, and parent and family education and support.

CCHC supports this program because substance use prevention is the least funded activity in our region to combat substance use.

Community Health Center of Cape Cod - $450,000 for:

  • Structured Outpatient Addiction Program (SOAP). The purpose of the grant is to expand access to medication-assisted treatment on the Upper Cape. The SOAP program consists of short-term, clinically intensive structured, day and/or evening substance use disorder services. This expands treatment options on the Upper Cape. Direct referrals can be made by Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital.

Duffy Health Center - $120,000 for:

  • Outpatient substance use and homelessness program. The grant will be used to hire a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor who will provide case management services to patients enrolled in Duffy’s Medication Assisted Treatment program (MAT). These expanded services will allow Duffy to implement rapid access for patients seen in the Cape Cod Hospital Emergency Center, as well as patients discharged from CCH inpatient services. Duffy will provide integrated medical and behavioral healthcare to individuals enrolled in the MAT program.

CCHC supports this program because Duffy serves homeless adults or those at risk of homelessness. Case management services, combined with Medication Assisted Treatment can stabilize an individual and address his or her social and medical complexities.

Outer Cape Health Services - $52,000 for:

  • Expansion of Office-Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) in order to improve access to Medically-Assisted Treatment (MAT). This program currently services the Mid and Lower-Outer Cape region and, as a result of the grant, the program capacity will increase by 50 percent over three years. It will also allow increased staffing of OBOT nurses managers, physicians and a community health outreach worker to assist individuals with connection to broader supportive services.