Coalition Receives Grant to Support Opioid Overdose Crisis Interventions

Coalition Receives $500,000 Grant from Sumner County Commission to Support Opioid Overdose Crisis Interventions

In a determined response to the ongoing opioid overdose crisis, the Sumner County Commissioners Court has awarded a 2-year $500,000 grant to a coalition of organizations including Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas, the Sumner County Prevention Coalition, Volunteer Behavioral Health, Sumner County’s health department, EMS and more to implement a multi-faceted approach to opioid use interventions and recovery support.

This initiative, funded through the direct appropriation of state opioid abatement funds, will harness the collective expertise of these groups to provide recovery services and community resources for individuals affected by opioid addiction. A central component of this grant is the establishment of a new Substance Use Recovery Navigator role at Highpoint Health. According to Sumner County EMS reports, 51% of the opioid overdose incidents responded to by emergency services in from Q2 2022 To Q2 2024 were transported to Highpoint Health – Sumner’s emergency room to receive life-saving treatment.

The Substance Abuse Recovery Navigator, which Highpoint Health is actively seeking to fill, will play a critical part in bridging the gap between emergency care and ongoing addiction recovery. The navigator will work with patients who have recently overdosed, connecting them with naloxone, follow-up care options, appointments at partnering outpatient clinics, and helping them navigate barriers to recovery, such as transportation and housing.

The recovery specialist will not only work within the emergency room directly with patients but also serve as a liaison to the wider network of community services available to individuals facing opioid addiction. Using motivational interviewing and tailored resources like the "Box of Hope"—a toolkit containing information, naloxone, and community support contacts—the navigator will help guide patients toward the next steps in their recovery journey.

As part of the broader countywide approach, the coalition will implement real-time opioid overdose mapping to enable rapid response and allocate resources effectively based on geographic overdose trends. Other initiatives funded by the grant and supported by the coalition include public access naloxone kits in strategic locations and investing in training programs to better equip emergency responders and medical staff in handling substance abuse crises.

"This grant underscores Sumner County's commitment to addressing the opioid crisis with innovative solutions and compassionate care,” said Rod Harkleroad, Chief Executive Officer of the Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas hospital system. "By bringing together healthcare, emergency services, non-profits skilled in recovery, and community support, we are building a safety net for those in need."

For more information on the Substance Use Navigator role or to apply, please visit https://jobs.lifepointhealth.net/job/gallatin/recovery-navigator/40921/75512734752

About the Coalition

These grant funds will be utilized and administered by a coalition of community partners including the Sumner County Health Department, Sumner County EMS, Volunteer Behavioral Health, the Sumner Prevention Coalition, and Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas.