STRENGTH IN PEERS INC

FROM 7/2023 TO 6/2024, STRENGTH IN PEERS SERVED 1,521 INDIVIDUALS. IT TARGETS POPULATIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT FACE BARRIERS TO TREATMENT, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HOMELESS, HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION AND LIVE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. BARRIERS INCLUDE LACK OF TRUST IN PUBLIC SYSTEMS, REAL/PERCEIVED STIGMA, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, PHYSICAL ISOLATION, LIMITED HEALTH LITERACY, TRANSPORTATION, AND COST/INSURANCE. OUTREACH PROGRAMS DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS AND CONNECT THEM TO COMMUNITY SERVICES. THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM HELPED 15 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR HOUSING SERVICES. THE JAIL OUTREACH TEAM HELPED 263 INDIVIDUALS PLAN THEIR TRANSITIONS FROM INCARCERATION TO THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDED 592 INDIVIDUALS ASSISTANCE CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, OBTAINING ID CARDS, APPLYING FOR JOBS AND HOUSING, AND ENROLLING IN PUBLIC BENEFITS. THE COMPREHENSIVE HARM REDUCTION PROVIDED192 INDIVIDUALS SYRINGE EXCHANGE, NALOXONE, FENTANYL TEST STRIPS, HARM REDUCTION EDUCATION, AND ASSISTANCE CONNECTING TO RECOVERY AND MEDICAL SERVICES. THE HIV AND HEPATITIS C TESTING PROVIDED 102 INDIVIDUALS RAPID TESTING, RISK REDUCTION EDUCATION AND REFERRALS TO TREATMENT. THE SAFE AND SECURE PROGRAM PROVIDED 52 INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SHORT-TERM HOTEL VOUCHERS, PEER SUPPORT AND RESOURCE CONNECTION FOLLOWING AN IN-PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. RECOVERY PROGRAMS LEAD WITH PEER SUPPORT AND CASE MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATE COUNSELING AND TELEPSYCHIATRY PROVIDED BY PARTNERS. THE BACK ON TRACK RECOVERY PROGRAM SERVED 108 HOMELESS/UNSTABLY HOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND THE SIDE-BY-SIDE RECOVERY PROGRAM SERVED 96 RURAL LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS. THE RECOVERY CENTER HAD 38 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN ITS INDIVIDUAL PEER SUPPORT AND 121 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN ITS FIVE WEEKLY GROUPS ON RECOVERY, WELLNESS, TRAUMA, AND ANGER MANAGEMENT. THE RECOVERY HOUSE PROVIDED 18 INDIVIDUALS SAFE, SOBER AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.