Rockingham County Department of Health and Human Services News Release • June 25, 2024 • Lisa Ellington, Interim Public Health Administrator
(Rockingham County, NC) – Earlier this year, the Rockingham County Division of Public Health posted a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) soliciting proposals for Community Resource Development or Enhancement Programming for Opioid Use Disorder Initiatives. Funding for the RFQ proposal will come from the Opioid Settlement. The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners had previously approved (4) $25,000 awards, or up to $100,000 total, for any favorable community resource proposal chosen. After carefully considering all submitted proposals, the Commissioners awarded $27,000 to Starting Point Rural Harm Reduction Collective (SPRHRC) at their May 22nd convening.
SPRHRC’s work focuses on harm reduction strategies that also reduce stigma through advocacy, outreach, and empowerment by providing direct and evidenced-based services to individuals impacted by drug use and its associated risk factors. A few examples of their work include safe use and community education, Narcan distribution, fentanyl test strips, sterile syringe exchange, HIV/HCV prevention, and peer support services.
“We are extremely excited to have SPRHRC expanding their services into Rockingham County,” stated Lisa Ellington, facilitator with Rockingham County Recovers, a community work group. “We will be very fortunate to have them as we continue to seek services that prevent unintended death by overdose. I look forward to helping them get established within the community.”
SPRHRC currently provides services in Alamance, Person, and Orange Counties. SPRHRC’s operational location in Rockingham will be announced once they are fully open for business. Updates will be posted on the Rockingham County Recovers webpage at https://www.rockinghamcountync.gov/pview.aspx?id=55228.
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