PROJECT LAZARUS ANNUAL REPORT 2019
| PROJECT LAZARUS | OAKRIDGE HOLDINGS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR From the first days of learning of an opioid problem in Wilkes County, NC, our approach has been to holistically and ethically serve individuals with and those at risk for substance use disorder. This approach remains in place today, despite an ever-changing substance use landscape. While there have been lessons learned and adjustments made, one goal remains constant - to do no harm while aiding other in their change and to save lives Our Lazarus Prevention Services (LPS) staff are well equipped to implement prevention measures serving those from infancy to young adulthood, in order to build resiliency and mitigate the risk factors that may lead to substance use. LPS aspires to unify the community to address the social determinants of substance use, creating greater community awareness and fostering stigma-free education Our Lazarus Recovery Services (LRS) staff include NC Certified Peer Support Specialist who meet with individuals in their present condition, using a non-judgmental harm reduction approach. LRS delivers services which supports and enhances the individual’s chosen recovery modality. We strive to eliminate barriers to recovery by connecting people with the resources to meet their basic and recovery needs. LRS…Reach, Rescue, Recover, Restore Responsible pain management, addiction treatment, and recovery services are paramount to provide without stigmatization or barriers to access. Project Lazarus works towards responsible pain care by educating providers and promoting integrative pain management. We work to build consensus that there is no one treatment that works for all, but that everyone can have recovery. Fred Wells Brason II President/CEO
We at Project Lazarus remain steadfast to the premise that “it takes a village” to bring change. As we stand together, know you are appreciated for accomplishing your part.
Our Team Staff: Fred Wells Brason II, President/CEO Karen Brason, Programs Accounts Manager Jane Casarez, Director of Prevention Services Allison Clonch, Director of Evaluations Julie Klecker, Director of Lazarus Recovery Services Kelsey Davenport, Prevention Coordinator Luke Jarvis, Prevention Coordinator Keana Blackburn, Peer Support Specialist Amanda Hutchins, Peer Support Specialist Lewis McNeil, Peer Support Specialist Research Advisor: Nabarun Dasgupta, PhD Accounting Services: Donald S. Kinney, CPA, PC
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Wilkes Youth Coalition:
Wilkes Opioid Response Program:
Angela Brooks-Livingston, Daymark
AIDS Leadership - Foothills-Area Alliance
Brandon Call, Wilkes Health
Mountain Health Solutions
Caroline Czerkawski, Journal Patriot
Project Lazarus
Angela Day, Town of North Wilkesboro
Recovery Revolution
Kirstin Devlin-Roberts, Wilkes
Wilkes County EMS
Partnership for Children
Wilkes County Health Department
Amber Dixon, Western Youth Network Greta Ferguson, Wilkes Circles of Care Lana Ferguson, Central Wilkes Middle Sarcanda Green, Wilkes Health April Marr, Wilkes County Schools Jenny Richardson, Wilkes Family YMCA Crystal Triplett, Community Member David Willard, AppHealth
Board of Directors: Anthony Dragovich, MD, Lt Colonel (Ret) Steve Passik, PhD Sid Schnoll, MD, PhD Susan Albert, MD, MPH
Thank you!
| PROJECT LAZARUS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
THE PROJECT LAZARUS MODEL The Project Lazarus Model can be conceptualized as a wheel, with three core components in the “Hub” and seven components that make up the “Spokes.” This wheel is always in motion since coalitions and communities are always evolving.
THE HUB
Public Awareness - Knowledge of the problem of overdose from prescription opioid analgesics. Coalition Action - Coordinate all sectors of the community response. Data and Evaluation - Ground a community's unique approach in their locally identified needs and improve interventions.
THE SPOKES
Community Education - Improve the public's capacity to recognize and avoid the dangers of misuse/abuse of prescription opioids. Provider Education - Support screening and appropriate treatment for mental illness, addiction, and pain. Hospital ED Policies - Encourage safe prescribing of controlled substances and provide meaningful referrals for chronic pain and addiction. Diversion Control - Reduce the presence of unused medicines in society.
We take a person-centered approach to overdose prevention and treatment that considers one's environment, community, relationships, individual resources, and more. At the end of the day, it takes a village. 2
PROJECT LAZARUS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
2019 at a Glance
$1.3M 5 9,000+ 60 3
in grant funding to support our programs and services in Wilkes County and beyond
active federal grants in 2019, including 3 new grants awarded to Project Lazarus
Naloxone doses distributed throughout the community
medication lockboxes distributed for keeping medications safely stored
PROJECT LAZARUS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
81 35 380 5
clients enrolled in our peer support program, Lazarus Recovery Services, from January to December 2019
healthcare providers trained in safe opioid prescribing methods at a Project Lazarushosted training
Wilkes County youth engaged in either drug education or life skills development by our prevention staff
counties in which Project Lazarus actively works: Wilkes, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, and Catawba
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PROJECT LAZARUS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
OUR PROGRAMS YOUTH PREVENTION Our prevention efforts have never been stronger. In 2019, our prevention team successfully led community outreach and education programs in schools across the county, spanning from elementary to high school. Project Lazarus has seen a decrease in Wilkes middle and high school youths’ self-reported 30-day use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and prescription medications that were not prescribed to them. We sent three staff members to the Southeastern ACEs Summit in 2019, and subsequently sent additional staff to be trained in Reconnect for Resiliency in order to better utilize strengths-based prevention efforts,
Project Lazarus' Youth Coalition The Wilkes Youth Coalition, funded through the Drug Free Communities grant, continued engaging children and families in 2019. In February 2019, we sent 12 coalition members, including 6 middle school youths, to the CADCA National Leadership Forum in Washington DC.
Wilkes Early College High School Vaping Fair The students of Wilkes Early College High School sought Project Lazarus' assistance in planning and implementing a vaping fair for their fellow classmates. The fair sought to educate students on the dangers of vaping and e-cigarette products. The fair hosted several local experts on the topic as guest speakers and resource tables from local organizations.
Legislative Breakfast on Vaping West Wilkes High School SODA club and Wilkes Early College High School Key Club hosted a Legislative Breakfast on vaping in March 2019. With the support of Project Lazarus prevention specialists, students urged local officials, school staff, and policy makers to take rapid action to curb the the prevalence of youth e-cigarette use.
Youth Prevention Training Project Lazarus facilitated a prevention training for 35 Wilkes County students at Camp Harrison. Students created strategic plans for how they will implement youth engagement activities around issues of substance use.
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ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
PROJECT LAZARUS
OUR PROGRAMS COMMUNITY EDUCATION Community education is a core component of the Project Lazarus Model. When Project Lazarus began 13 years ago, we started by educating the community on the issues of prescription drug misuse: providers, families, and local officials. Community education is critical to ensure people understand and how to respond appropriately to issues of substance misuse. In 2019, we continued our tradition of community education. We partnered with Wilkes Recovery Revolution for their 3rd Annual Recovery Rally in Wilkesboro where people gathered for music, food, and community. Project Lazarus also participated in the NC MedAssist Free Pharmacy event to provide free over the counter medicines to those in need.
Fourth Annual Jimi Jon Jam and Scholarship The Fourth Annual Jimi Jon Jam was held in North Wilkesboro in September. Featuring live music, food, and a silent auction, the Jimi Jon Jam continues to provide a substance-free community festivity to remember those we have lost to mental health and substance use disorders. The Jimi Jon Jam raises money for Project Lazarus' Jimi Jon Memorial Scholarship which is awarded to a student whose family life has been affected by substance use. This year it was awarded to Jacob Smithey of North Wilkes High.
Safe Prescriber Training Project Lazarus hosted a continuing medical education event for providers in the region to learn about safe prescribing practices. We provided training 35 practioners on responsible opioid treatment for pain management.
Spanish Language Naloxone Video After conducting a community needs assessment in 2019, we learned that the growing Hispanic/Latino population in Wilkes is in critical need of access to culturally and linguistically appropriate resources for substance misuse. We wanted to ensure that this population was educated on how to use the life-saving overdose reversal drug Naloxone. We created a Spanish language version of a Naloxone education video to be played at clinics, the hospital, and health department.
! b o c a J s t Congra
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PROJECT LAZARUS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
OUR PROGRAMS LAZARUS RECOVERY SERVICES Lazarus Peer Guides provide support across the continuum of recovery. During 2019, the Lazarus Recovery Services (LRS) program experienced new growth after receiving a federal grant to support our peer guide services. LRS helps to connect those in recovery with the resources they need to remain in their recovery journey. Some resources we help to provide include housing, electricity/water, food, clothing, legal services, employment/job training, and more. We enrolled 53 clients into the program during FFY 2019, and we expanded our referral agencies to include new community partners. We are reaching more people than ever before with a team of skilled NC Certified Peer Support Specialists. Each of our peer guides is on their own recovery journey, and thus have a unique ability to empathize with our clients' struggles with addiction. In 2019, we welcomed Julie Klecker to Project Lazarus as the Director of Lazarus Recovery Services. Julie brings years of experience in substance use counseling. Julie has made great strides in our community in a short amount of time, including introducing three new peer support specialists into the community, creating relationships with more community partners, and taking new measures to ensure we are meeting the needs of our clients in the
Julie Klecker, LCMHC
community.
NUMBER OF CLIENTS WE SERVED BY NEED IN FFY 2019
21
33
HELPED GAIN
HELPED TO ACCESS
EMPLOYMENT
BASIC NEEDS
15
7
30
26
HELPED TO
AIDED IN
FIND HOUSING
TRANSPORTATION
17
21
RECEIVED
CONNECTED TO
ENTERED OR STAYED
MEDICAL CARE
LEGAL SERVICES
IN TREATMENT
PROJECT LAZARUS
ANNUAL REPORT | 2019
WILKES & BEYOND NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING In May of 2019, Project Lazarus CEO Fred Wells Brason II visited Newfoundland, Ontario, and Alberta, Canada, at the request of the US Department of State as a Speaker for the Bureau of International Information Programs and the US Embassy and Consulates of Canada. Fred also met with the Kainai (Blood) First Nations Tribe, the largest First Nations Tribe in Canada geographically. Fred's trip allowed him to learn the aspects of their programs and discuss using the Project Lazarus model as a method to reduce overdose deaths through harm reduction practices. Project Lazarus' Fred Brason was selected to be a part of Maine's Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) Community Opioid Overdose Response Faculty for 2019. In this role, Fred brought technical expertise in harm reduction and overdose prevention to 12 communities in Maine.
COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE PROJECT LAZARUS MODEL IN 38 STATES!
Project Lazarus was asked to participate in Tennessee State University's Substance Use Disorder Rural Transportation Workshop in a panel discussion on leveraging Federal, State, and Local funds to support rural transportation issues around substance use disorder. The Virginia Pain Society held its Second Annual Meeting in March 2019. Project Lazarus is the founding sponsor of this organization which aims to educate healthcare providers on responsible pain treatment and the role of providers in preventing opioid overdose. Fred Wells Brason II serves as the executive director.
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Wilkes Early College High School students at the Vaping Fair they hosted
Problem Child performs at the Fourth Annual Jimi Jon Jam
All smiles at the CADCA National Leadership Forum
Local youth attend CADCA National Leadership Forum in DC
Project Lazarus' Ally and Lewis at the NC ATOD conference last Fall
Project Lazarus staff visit a horse therapy center in Conover, NC
Business calls: 336-667-8100 Email: info@projectlazarus.org www.projectlazarus.org PO Box 261, Moravian Falls NC, 28654 facebook.com/preventopioidoverdose twitter.com/prolaznc Supported by: