The United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose deaths. While no corner of the country has gone untouched, the overdose crisis has hit rural America particularly hard. Between 1999 and 2015, overdose deaths increased 325 percent in rural counties. As counties are on the front lines of this crisis, providing leaders in rural communities with the appropriate resources and strategies to overcome substance use-related challenges in their communities is key.

NACo and our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, the CDC and the State Justice Institute, are excited to announce the new initiative, Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions.

This new initiative is grounded in the value of “for rural, by rural.” The hallmark of the Reaching Rural initiative is learning from rural practitioners and facilitating engagement across rural communities.

What is the Reaching Rural initiative?

The Reaching Rural: Advancing Collaborative Solutions initiative is a one-year project designed for rural justice and public safety practitioners; public health and behavioral health practitioners; city, county, and tribal leaders; and community groups. The initiative empowers rural practitioners to build deeper cross-sector networks; reimagine how diverse systems with different missions can engage with one another to more effectively serve justice-involved individuals with substance use or co-occurring disorders; and adopt bold solutions to the persistent challenge of substance use and misuse in rural communities. This is not a grant opportunity.

Participation in the Reaching Rural initiative offers:

• Travel and per diem costs to participate in an orientation, a field visit to observe the implementation of evidence-informed practices in a rural setting and a capstone session at the end of the 12-month initiative
• Monthly mentorship and guidance aimed toward your local needs
• Monthly assignments that help you apply core concepts to your local community or region
• Access to a diverse network of rural peers, innovative rural communities, and technical assistance providers; and
• Formal recognition for completing the planning initiative.

How to Apply

Applicants may apply to participate in the Reaching Rural initiative as an individual practitioner or as member of a cross-sector team from the same community or region. Participation is limited to up to 20 individual practitioners and up to 10 cross-sector teams.

To apply, you may access the Reaching Rural application here. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2022 at 5:00 pm ET.

Additional Resources

NACo’s Opioid Solutions Center is a comprehensive information hub that empowers local leaders to invest resources in effective treatment, recovery, prevention and other public health practices that can save lives and address the underlying causes of substance use disorders. The Opioid Solutions Center provides practical tools, case examples and connections to organizations who can help county leaders pursue solutions for their communities.  

Questions?

Please reach out to Nastassia Walsh, nwalsh@naco.org, with any questions about the initiative.