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| | 4. | | City-County efforts, programs, initiatives, grants, or activities updates.
Minutes note: a. Connections to Heal event
Individuals appearing:
Michael Stevenson, Milwaukee Health Dept.
Courtney Geiger, Milwaukee Health Dept.
Ms. Geiger gave a PowerPoint presentation as follows:
The task force supported the event, which was a community opioid awareness event for those experiencing addiction and those affected by substance misuse. The event was hosted by the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) on June 24, 2019 at Bradley Tech High School. The event was modeled after the "Conversations for Change" project from Dayton, Ohio.
Objectives included enhancing collaboration between community-based initiatives and government agencies, creating and maintaining strategies to support long-term recovery for those experiencing addiction, and linking various resources to one another resulting in a comprehensive approach.
The event featured storytelling over a meal, naloxone training and distribution, a "wake up" room, community partners (counselors, peer support, treatment providers), resource fair, and medication drop-off. The storytelling meal was an opportunity for participants to share their story of addiction and/or the impact of substance abuse. The naloxone training and distribution was conducted by MHD staff. The "wake up" room was conducted by the South Milwaukee Health Department. Resources from the United Community Center (UCC), MHD, and Community Medical Services (CMS) were available.
Outcomes included 35 community members in participation, people completing surveymonkey, naloxone training being recognized as the favorite activity, feedback, and 20 vendors in participation and indicating likely future participation. Feedback of the event was positive and included request for additional resources for future events (housing, peer support group, resources for women or women with children who suffer from substance abuse).
Next steps would include making the event into a sustainable and replicable model that can be utilized by various entities in diverse communities and to secure funds to support efforts aligned with the recommendations and needs of community members.
Members commented. Some members were in attendance. There was positive engagement. The event should become regular. Perhaps another event can occur during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week in January. There can be further collaboration with Behavioral Health Services. There should be follow-up with participants, such as member Vann who was in attendance.
b. Milwaukee Health Department Opioid Awareness Campaign
Individuals appearing:
Michael Stevenson, Milwaukee Health Dept.
Courtney Geiger, Milwaukee Health Dept.
Mr. Stevenson gave a PowerPoint presentation as follows:
MHD had received a $20,000 State of Wisconsin Enhancing Public Health Preparedness: The Opioid Epidemic grant from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health to develop an opioid awareness campaign. The campaign audience would include individuals who are, or may be, prescribed prescription opioids. Campaign goals would include increasing awareness that opioids can be addictive and dangerous, increasing the number of individuals who avoid using opioids recreationally, and increasing the number of individuals who choose alternative non-opioid options for safe and effective pain management. The campaign development process involved reviewing best practices in April, hosting design session(s) in May, developing campaign materials in May/June, getting feedback from stakeholders in June, and launching the campaign in August. About $3,000 to $4,000 has been spent on design, and the remainder would be used to purchase advertisement.
Examples of campaign images and education materials were shown.
Next steps would include finalizing campaign images and educational materials with translation into Spanish, purchasing campaign materials and advertisement space (transit shelters, bus cards, bus tails, junior billboards, standard billboards, social media ads), launching the campaign with a press conference, evaluation, determining next steps, and finding additional funding sources.
Members said that more money is needed to continue the campaign and that a possible funding source could come from AOTA block grants.
c. OEM Bureau of Justice Assistance's Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program grant application
Individual appearing:
Dan Pojar, Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
Mr. Pojar gave a PowerPoint presentation as follows:
OEM was contacted by the Department of Justice to apply for the grant. The grant is part of a series of solicitations to support national demonstration collaborations to build local data capacity and support innovation. Six communities would be selected and awarded $600,000 for a period of 24 months. Recipients would be notified of awarding on or after August 15, 2019. The purpose would be to integrate EMS, law enforcement, and hospital systems into one data collection system interface to report to ODMAP for effective use of near real-time data (both fatal and nonfatal overdoses) to help save lives and allow for coordinated and tailored responses. The focuses of the grant would include preventing and reducing overdose deaths associated with opioids (including illicit fentanyl) and advancing a shared understanding of the patterns and characteristics of problem drug use in a local community.
The belief is that the OEM-EMS Division would be best to lead and make an application due to its education, quality assurance, data analytics, and medical direction. OEM has oversight of nearly 1,400 EMS providers granting the authority to practice EMS in the 14 fire departments in the County. OEM believes that Milwaukee County presently engages both of the primary grant focuses through the task force, Overdose Fatality Review Board, Milwaukee Community Opioid Prevention Effort (COPE), OEM's Standard of Care treatment guideline for Opioid overdoses, OEM training of law enforcement officers on naloxone, High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), OEM's tracking of opioid overdoses in the County through ePCRs and LEO reporting.
The award would entail planning and implementation phases beginning September 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020, respectively. The planning phase would include the hiring of a project coordinator to have strategic oversight, leadership, and executive decision-making authority; participate in monthly various data focused workgroups to achieve data analysis goals; form a larger stakeholder group for community inclusion; and participate in a conference with all award stakeholders. Implementation would include establishing or enhancing an overdose fatality review team, conducting rapid assessment to quickly gather data in response to a question or crisis requiring timely intervention, conducting testing of drug paraphernalia, collaborating with Medical Examiners to expedite access to preliminary data on suspected overdose deaths prior to forensic toxicology data, expediting toxicology analysis and utilizing screening kits and new technology for potential novel or counterfeit drugs, implementing ODMAP, and implementing systems to identify infants and children exposed to parental opioid use.
Anticipated timelines would include meeting and greeting with all of the collaborators on September 15, the project coordinator compiling 1st month data on October 15, the data analyst presenting data to collaborators on November 13th, re-evaluating data and obtaining stakeholder input on December 11th, health data specialists incorporating new data to form initiatives on January 15th, and implementing phase planning using trends in data to start forming and driving the direction of implementation initiatives from March to August 2020.
Member Lappen moved approval, seconded by member Shogren, to support the grant application of OEM. There was no objection.
Chair Murphy said that MHD should collaborate with OEM on the system.
Members questioned participation of fire departments to ODMAP and community access to the system.
Mr. Pojar replied. The Milwaukee and West Allis fire departments do not report to the ODMAP system. MFD has technological interface issues. WAFD is working on doing automated reporting. Spike notifications and alerts are possible for agencies and the community.
d. Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative (MORI)
Individuals appearing
Jonathan Belott, Milwaukee Fire Department
Amy Molinski, Community Medical Services
Ald. Jose Perez, 12th Aldermanic District
Mr. Belott and Ms. Molinski gave a PowerPoint presentation as follows:
Initial metrics from MORI include the identification of patients through MFD dispatch and EMS data, actual contacts made from data, patient transportation to treatment, harm reduction resources and information delivered, reported overdoses within 30 days post contact, pharmacist interventions, drug disposals, and patients who are both insured or not insured.
There were four case studies to show. Case one was a 27-year old male who had overdosed, had initial family resistance, intiated a second visit, and will have follow-up today. Case two was a 64-year old male who violated parole, has long term care at WAM, is in total collaboration, and was given treatment instead of jail time after his parole due to collaboration with his parole officer. Case three was a 38-year old male who overdosed while driving, was misusing substances short of the fatal consequences, had parents first meet to seek help, had initial resistance but finally sought help, was covered by the County for addiction treatment, and is currently in treatment. Case four was a 56-year old male with insurance coverage issues and was transported via Lyft to CMS the next day after those insurance issues were resolved.
Members and Ald. Perez commended the program and advocated for further follow-up of patients on their recovery.
Members questioned data on narcan use and reimbursement from HMO and Medicare.
Mr. Belott and Ms. Molinski replied. Follow-up of patients does occur to an extent. Further data on patients can be requested from treatment facilities. The amount of narcan used is recorded in fire department reports. There is exploration to share MFD data. The program does its best to visit all overdose victims. There is no reimbursement.
Chair Murphy added that MORI was a result of a City budget amendment that he had put through for this year and that the City's Attorney's Office is in the process of litigating pharmaceutical companies.
e. Other
Member Bukiewicz said that Oak Creek high school students had formed a nonprofit organization called Dance Against Substance Abuse and will hold a 2nd annual recital benefit event on August 17 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The money raised will be donated to rehab housing. Tickets are for sale and everyone should support them.
Vice-chair Lappen said that a Medicaid waiver will start on November 11th for AOTA treatment only. Further details will need to be sorted out. Room and board will not be covered. The waiver will triple the number of people receiving care and reduce waiting lists.
Member Shogren said that there will be an opiate summit on October 25 to 26, 2019 at the Grand Geneva Resort with 700-800 participants, stakeholders, and community representatives.
Members discussed ongoing recidivism among released prisoners, the rising prevalence of meth, need to educate on meth substance abuse, and to include meth as part of the task force conversation.
Member Kowalik commented. Several initiatives occuring among the local health departments include: Public Health Substance Abuse, South Shore Emergency Preparedness Opioid Grant, Municipal-Level Overdose Fatality Review, Community Advocates-Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, and other substance abuse and drug overdose work in Milwaukee County. Of importance is to align missions among different agencies; get Medicaid coverage treatment for Wisconsin like other states; and consider the systematic and generational issues on the lack of equity, lack of treatment access, racism, and criminalization in public health. National attention has been given to the work of the City and County. | | | |
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| | 5. | | Public comments.
Minutes note: Neil Dogra testified. He is a high school student committed to opioid misuse and abuse prevention and public education, especially doing outreach to Milwaukee Public School students as a peer. The focus is on self-sufficiency. He is trying to increase his reach with a documentary and has been in touch with recovering addicts. Feedback from those interviewed include issues with trust and honesty, which needs improvement.
Paul Mozina testified. He is advocating the task force to consider addressing the war on drugs, drug laws, and the improper criminalization of people. People have an inherit right to put anything into their bodies. Law enforcement and current efforts have failed to address the supply and prevalence of drugs. Public health and current systems have been disenfranchising people, improperly medicating children for a variety of medical reasons, such as for ADHD, and then criminalizing adults. | | | |
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