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News – Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Opioid Crisis Next Door: Strategies for Building Local Coalitions
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Center for Rural Health, the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network, the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, the Illinois Pharmacists Association, and the Healthy Communities Partnership are sponsoring a workshop designed to help rural communities organize, implement, and maintain coalitions to address opioid and substance abuse.
| WHAT: | Opioid Crisis Next Door: Strategies for Building Local Coalitions workshop |
| WHERE: | The Crowne Plaza (second floor ballroom) 3000 S. Dirksen Springfield, IL |
| WHEN: | Thursday September 1, 2016 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| WHY: | To increase awareness of the rapidly growing problem of opioid abuse and heroin use in rural communities and to help create community engagement coalitions. |
To also address substance abuse, Illinois recently announced the Health and Human Services Transformation which places a focus on prevention and public health; emphasizes value and outcomes rather than volume and services; makes evidence-based and data-driven decisions; and moves individuals from institutions to community care to keep them more closely connected with their families and communities. The initial focus of the transformation effort has been on behavioral health (mental health and substance use) and specifically the integration of behavioral and physical health service delivery. On August 26, 2016, Illinois released a draft for public comment of a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver. Effective behavioral health integration offers benefits to primary care providers and patients. For more information log onto: https://www.illinois.gov/sites/hhstransformation/overview/Pages/1115MedicaidWaiver.aspx.