Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement Initiatives:
EMS-led Team
Colerain Township Ohio, QRT
Program Timeline: The Colerain Township QRT initiative began in the fall of 2013, as a partnership of police, fire and EMS responders, to enhance the life safety response capabilities for critical incidents, and as a “first emergency first” collaborative response. Carol Baden introduced herself to Colerain in late 2013, early 2014 and inquired how their police and fire were responding to the opioid crisis. That began the education and almost 18-month journey of learning, internal and external education and culture change. On July 15, 2015 Colerain Fire/EMS, police and the Greater Cincinnati Addiction Services Council joined together for the first QRT shift in Colerain.
Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement initiatives:
Law Enforcement-led Team
Fairfield County, Ohio
Project F.O.R.T.
Program Timeline Project FORT became a full-time program in March 2018, however planning Project FORT started in 2016. What started small has grown into an outreach program that is now known throughout the county and throughout the state. The Project FORT team consists of the project Director who is a retired agent from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who now has over 36 years of law enforcement experience. The team also has an embedded Peer Recovery Coach. The team also includes one full time Community Paramedic from the Violet Township Fire Department and several full time Paramedics from the City of Lancaster. The team also has treatment providers who can respond and are available in instances where they are deemed necessary for assessment and placement.
Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement initiatives:
Peer-led Team
Fayette County, Ohio-PORT
Program Timeline: In 2019 Fayette County received the HRSA Rural Health Opioid Response Program Grant, for their Pathways to Recovery Program, which included the creation of a QRT. In 2020 Fayette County started their QRT Program. Fayette County later received the Rural Communities Overdose Response Team Grant and SOR funding which they used to expand and enhance their program. The funding was used to bring on first responders, peer navigators, treatment agencies and law enforcement.
Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement initiatives:
Public Safety-led Team
Hamilton County Ohio, QRT
Program Timeline: In 2017, Hamilton County received a $400,000 CARA grant to launch a county-wide quick response team. With the help of community partners such as Commander Tom Fallon, Dan Meloy, Shana Merrick, Kelly Firesheets, and Nan Franks, the QRT launched part-time. Working two days a week. One day on the east side and one day on the west side of Cincinnati. The team operated as such until September 2021, when the team received a $1M COSSAP grant to expand its deflection programming to launch a full-time program that included both reactive door knocks and proactive outreach in the community.
Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement initiatives:
Small Community
Huron County QRT
Program Timeline The Huron County QRT is a collaboration between the Huron County Sheriff’s Department, Norwalk Police Department, Willard Police Department, Monroeville Police Department, New London Police Department, Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services, Family Life Counseling, Oriana House, Let’s Get Real, Certified Peer Supporters, and the Huron County Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The team conducts post overdose response services, visiting the home of individuals who have recently overdosed, providing support and resources. Follow up phone calls and visits are made to individuals offering ongoing support.
Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement initiatives:
Medium Sized Community
Lawrence County QRT
Program Timeline: Lawrence County QRT was launched in October 2017. The Lawrence County QRT operates under the authority of the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office. Commander Marcum of the Lawrence County Drug and Major Crimes Task Force supervises the QRT, while Detective Layman from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department manages daily operations and conducts field work. Recently, the Lawrence County QRT has had several additions to different aspects of their team.
Outstanding QRT, Outreach, and Engagement initiatives:
Large Community
Lucas County Ohio, DART
Program Timeline The Lucas County Sheriff’s Office Drug Abuse Response Team was founded by retired Sheriff John Tharp in July of 2014. Attorney General DeWine, now Governor DeWine, provided funding to the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office to create the Drug Abuse Response Team. The funding also helped with the expansion of detox beds in Lucas County. In 2014, Lucas County only had 18 detox beds available for the entire county. Today, there are over 135 available detox beds in Lucas County.
Outstanding Efforts in the Field of Deflection and Pre-Arrest
Diversion, Out of State Award (Team)
Southern Highlands, West Virginia – QRT, LEAD
Program Nominated: Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) QRT and LEAD
Outstanding Individual:
Service for a Local Community QRT, Outreach,
and Engagement Effort
Joe Cantrell-
Fayette County, OH PORT
Program Nominated: Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) QRT and LEAD
Outstanding Individual: Accomplishments to
Better the Field
Larrecsa Barker-
Huntington, WV QRT
About Awardee: Larrecsa has been with the Huntington, WV QRT since its inception in 2017.