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Dogwood Health Trust Provides an Update on Commitment to Address Substance Use Disorder in Western North Carolina

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Dogwood has invested approximately $3 million so far; on track to reach $5 million by end of year.

Asheville, N.C. – In keeping with the agreement with the NC Attorney General’s Office, Dogwood Health Trust will provide $5 million per year for five years for the purpose of funding programs and services dedicated to addressing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for residents of Western North Carolina. Approximately 52,000 people in WNC struggle with substance use disorder and almost half (47.4%) of adults living in the region report that their lives have been negatively affected by substance misuse (by self or someone else)1. To date, Dogwood has awarded 20 grants totaling approximately $3 million and is on track to meet their $5 million commitment by the end of 2020. For a full list of grantees to date, please visit www.dht.org/substance-use-disorder. 

“Our overarching goals are significant,” said April Bragg, PhD, Sr. Impact Officer for Substance Use Disorder with Dogwood Health Trust. “We want to reduce opioid deaths for the region by 40% in 2020; that is quite bold especially considering the current pandemic.” Bragg goes on to say that as part of the organization’s commitment to equity, Dogwood also wants to reduce substance use among minority populations and teens. In addition, Dogwood will work to deliver one or more substance use disorder-related programs to every county within the 18-county and Qualla Boundary region of Western North Carolina over time.

Dogwood’s strategies to prevent opioid overdose fatality include supporting efforts around syringe exchange, naloxone availability, and medication assisted treatment (MAT). Dogwood has awarded five grants to expand syringe exchange programs, two to improve the availability of naloxone, and seven to support and expand MAT programs. The estimated impact of those specific grants, measured in terms of lives saved from overdose death, aligns with the goal of a 40% reduction overall. Partners like Steady Collective, Buncombe County Health and Human Services, WNCAP, Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers (AMCHC), and MAHEC routinely provide updates to Dogwood in order to inform projected impact in the community 

AMCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center with six locations in Buncombe, Cherokee, Graham and Jackson counties. AMCHC integrates behavioral health into the primary care setting, with a focus on serving vulnerable and high-risk populations, many of whom may be homeless or newly housed, or struggling with SUD. To reach these groups, AMCHC utilizes Peer Support Specialists and a Mobile MAT program to provide medical and emotional support, SUD care and prevention, and assistance with medications and appointments.

With COVID-19 safety precautions, AMCHC’s Mobile MAT program faced challenges in connecting patients in-person with a clinician, psychiatrist, or prescriber. With support from Dogwood, AMCHC was able to purchase iPads with hot spots to use in their Mobile MAT program. This more reliable technology allowed the Peer Support Specialists to easily facilitate a visit with a mental health professional, a primary care physician, or a counselor. The grant also covers costs associated with uninsured patients, visits with therapists, and some medications. 

“The first five months have gone extremely well,” said AMCHC physician Dr. James Hartye. “Now, we’re looking at expanding the program into the far west counties, starting with Cherokee.” Hartye notes that they’re currently testing the technology to see how well it can perform in areas with less reliable internet service. 
Dogwood Health Trust is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation with the sole purpose of
dramatically improving the health and well-being of all people and communities of Western North Carolina. Dogwood Health Trust was created from the net proceeds of the sale of Mission Hospital and focuses on innovative ways to address the many factors that contribute to overall health and wellness. To learn more, please visit www.dht.org

1SAMHSA (2018 NSDUH survey) and WNCHN survey (2018), respectively

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Health & Wellness | Goal 4

Increase Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Prevention and Treatment

Support programs and networks that reduce deaths, treat addiction, and prevent first use

Objective 4.1: Reduce opioid overdose mortality throughout the region

Objective 4.2: Reduce untreated behavioral health and substance use disorder in disproportionately affected communities

Objective 4.3: Prevent and reduce behavioral health issues and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, illicit and prescription drugs) in youth

Health & Wellness | Goal 3

Address Health Disparities

Help reduce disparities based on race, location, education and income factors

Objective 3.1: Improve health outcomes for women and infants in rural and low-income communities and communities of color

Objective 3.2: Reduce the prevalence of common chronic health diseases in disproportionately affected communities

Objective 3.3: Increase effectiveness of health care through delivery of culturally aligned services

Health & Wellness | Goal 2

Increase Access to Whole-Person Health Care

Invest in integrated heath care with seamless connections to supportive services

Objective 2.1: Increase the number of people with affordable health insurance coverage

Objective 2.2: Increase the available workforce for primary and allied health care services

Objective 2.3: Increase access to comprehensive and integrated care

Objective 2.4: Increase access to community-based services in low-income, elderly and rural communities

Health & Wellness | Goal 1

Support and Build Healthy Communities

Support communities that promote healthy living and resiliency and help mitigate the impact of trauma, isolation and stress on individuals and families, especially those experiencing poverty

Objective 1.1: Decrease adverse experiences (ACEs and traumatic violence) and improve individual and family resiliency

Objective 1.2: Increase access to community environments that promote healthy living and social connectedness across the age continuum

Economic Opportunity | Goal 4

Foster Entrepreneurship

Support a well-funded, sustainable, competitive entrepreneur and small business ecosystem throughout the region

Objective 4.1: Increase the number of Person of Color (POC)-led small businesses throughout the region

Objective 4.2: Increase the number of rural small businesses throughout the region

Economic Opportunity | Goal 3

Build Economic Ecosystems

Help build a regional economic ecosystem that supports increased creation/retention of jobs and business ownership

Objective 3.1: Improve access to higher-paying jobs throughout the region, targeting the lowest income populations

Objective 3.2: Increase and retain quality jobs

Objective 3.3: Stimulate economic growth, catalyzing businesses and revenue

Economic Opportunity | Goal 2

Promote Work Readiness

Help build a skilled workforce with the knowledge and technical abilities to excel in a wide range of industry employment opportunities that provide a competitive, sustainable wage

Objective 2.1: Close the educational attainment gap in WNC, staying on pace with regional and county-specific projections (myFutureNC 2030).

Economic Opportunity | Goal 1

Develop a Comprehensive Data Resource

Source, analyze and share a comprehensive, county-by-county data set that paints a full picture of work readiness, economic development and entrepreneurial needs and opportunities specific to Western North Carolina

Education | Goal 3

Support Higher Education Career Readiness

Work in tandem with Economic Opportunity Strategic Priority to invest in career readiness at the community college and university levels

Objective 4.1: Close the educational attainment gap in WNC, staying on pace with regional and county-specific projections (myFutureNC 2030).

Education | Goal 2

Improve K-12 Education

Support K-12 learning experiences with the resources and sustainability to provide an excellent academic and social-emotional education, so that all students graduate ready for college or career

Objective 2.1: Address teacher workforce challenges

Objective 2.2: Equip families of students to support academic growth and social-emotional health

Objective 2.3: Increase capacity of partners to provide supports and services, particularly for children facing challenges related to poverty, systemic racism, being differently abled or English language learners

Education | Goal 1

Improve Early Childhood Education Ecosystem

Invest in an improved early childhood education ecosystem with the resources and sustainability to provide developmentally appropriate, affordable and accessible education and care to support ages birth to five, so that all children in WNC enter kindergarten ready to learn

Objective: Address early childhood educator workforce challenges

Education | Goal 4

Develop a Comprehensive Landscape Study

Source, analyze and share a comprehensive set of publicly available data that provides a regularly updated, county-by-county picture of access, workforce and student outcomes in early childhood education and K-12 education specific to Western North Carolina

Housing | Goal 5

Use Impact Investments to Create Affordable and Workforce Housing

Loans, guarantees, and other financial tools to leverage funding opportunities

Housing | Goal 4

Create and Preserve Housing Units for Persons Below 50% of the Median Income

Increase affordable housing for lowest-income individuals and families

Objective 4.1: Create rental units for households below 50% of the median income

Objective 4.2: Help families pay no more than 30% of their income on housing

Objective 4.3: Create and preserve communities in a way that is representative of the WNC natural landscape

Housing | Goal 3

Create and Preserve Senior Housing

Support age-appropriate resources in affordable and workforce units, rental and owned

Objective 3.1: Create needed rental and homeownership opportunities for seniors

Objective 3.2: Incorporate supportive services in rental housing developments

Objective 3.3: Increase use of universal design in development

Housing | Goal 2

Create and Preserve Supportive Housing Rental Units

Invest in housing with sustainable supports for physical and mental health and wellbeing

Objective 2.1: Create new supportive housing

Objective 2.2: Preserve existing supportive housing

Objective 2.3: Leverage state and federal funds

Single story home in the midst of being build with 3 volunteers helping.

Housing | Goal 1

Support Healthy and Safe Revitalization Opportunities

Support healthy and safe revitalizations that work against displacement and gentrification, preserve home ownership and create generational wealth.

Objective 1.1: Revitalize Neighborhoods

Objective 1.2: Repurpose existing structures to minimize environmental impact

Objective 1.3: Support home ownership