The meeting prominently featured a report from the Escambia County EMS core team, which has served 447 patients since its inception. The team, highlighting an achievement with only 16 relapses, emphasized the importance of trust and word-of-mouth referrals in their continued success. They addressed poly-substance use trends, particularly the increase in methamphetamine cases laced with fentanyl. With 1,450 dosing appointments completed this year, surpassing last year’s total, the team remains focused on medication management and social support to facilitate patient transitions.

Community Health Northwest Florida reported a retention rate of 92.7% within their core program, with 256 active patients and 165 on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. The organization aims to expand into Santa Rosa County to meet regional needs, supported by a newly licensed peer support specialist. This expansion is critical as it seeks to re-engage patients who miss appointments, using tools to locate them and provide necessary care.

The Ministry Village at Olive detailed challenges in expanding its Caris House facility, currently at full capacity with a waiting list of ten women. Building costs have surged by 25%, raising the total project cost to over one million dollars. They are seeking additional funding through grants and donations to accommodate 30 more women.

Waterfront Mission shared updates on their increasing service demand, reporting a 34% increase in shelter nights and meals compared to the previous year. This rise is attributed to the opening of women’s services, contributing to the largest graduating class from their recovery program in May. They continue to seek additional housing to meet the growing demand, facing challenges in property acquisition.

The Lake View Center Cat program introduced a new therapist and discussed staffing challenges, including a proposal to replace a registered nurse case manager with a more accessible case manager role. This change was approved by the board after ensuring it would not impact service delivery. The program is set to begin a new group session.

In an effort to support youth affected by substance abuse, a program targeting children aged 5 to 18 was also discussed. It primarily serves older youth between 13 to 18 years, offering support for families dealing with substance abuse repercussions. The program accepts referrals from various sources, including the Department of Juvenile Justice and schools, addressing acute crises with weekly group meetings and individual sessions. Despite operating at capacity, the program hopes to expand to meet community needs, acknowledging a lack of robust adolescent support frameworks.

The Lake View Center’s Opus Program reported outreach efforts, with 176 contacts made in the second quarter. Despite challenges with harm reduction vending machines, the program continues distributing Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and conducting educational sessions on overdose prevention. They are working to expand outreach to additional communities, overcoming technical and vandalism issues.

The board also approved a revised scope of work for the Lake View Center CAT program, agreeing to replace an RN position with a regular case manager due to hiring difficulties. This decision returned nearly $32,000 to the funding pool and was followed by approval for a stipend for a lead nurse position within the EMS core team to enhance communication.