Howardcenter, Inc.

Expanding Mat Access to Rural Communities With Mobile Low-barrier Buprenorphine - the Primary Purpose of the Project Is to Expand Access to the Low Barrier Buprenorphine Model by Offering Mat for Adults With Oud Who Have Otherwise Been Unsuccessful in Mat, and to Support Treatment Retention. Our Population of Focus Includes Adults With Opioid Use Disorder Not Currently Receiving Mat, Particularly Those Engaging in High-risk Behaviors and With Co-occurring Disorders Who Have Struggled to Sustain Progress in Previous Treatment Episodes. Our Emphasis Is on People in Rural Communities With Significant Barriers to Treatment and Our Catchment Area Includes Franklin and Grand Isle Counties and Rural Portions of Chittenden County in Northwest Vermont. We Propose to Embed Outreach and Engagement in Mobile Syringe Service Programming (SSP) Using a Vehicle Similar to a Van or Bus Specially Outfitted for This Purpose. Aboard the Mobile Unit, a Trained Outreach Worker Will Conduct Screening and Provide Linkage to Mobile-based Buprenorphine Induction Provided by an X-waiver Prescriber. the Mobile Unit Will Serve as a Bridge to Comprehensive Care at One of Our Spoke Programs or Other Community Obot.