Summary of Kentucky‘s Newly Certified “Recovery Ready Communities“
This article highlights three Kentucky counties (or county groups) recently certified as “Recovery Ready Communities” – a designation recognizing a strong, coordinated local response to the addiction crisis. Here’s a breakdown of each:
1. Letcher County:
Key Players: Agency for Substance Abuse Planning (ASAP) Board, UNITE Coalition, Kentucky River Community Care, Help End Addiction for Life (HEAL) Coalition, Mountain Thorough Health Corporation.
Focus: Funding evidence-based programs, providing mental health resources (especially for youth), and increasing recovery resources for individuals and families, including within the judicial system.
Quote: Dr. Sydney Whitaker emphasizes the community’s commitment to turning hope into action.
2. Owsley County:
Key Players: Owsley County Anti-Drug Council, The Hub, Owsley County School District, Kentucky River Community Care, Kentucky River District Health Department.
Focus: Comprehensive prevention efforts for families, harm reduction outreach, recovery community center services (including disease prevention, overdose prevention, treatment access, and employment opportunities), and youth education. “The Hub” is a nationally recognized model.
Quote: Scott Lockard highlights the excitement around the certification and the collaborative effort to support those with substance use disorder.
3. Boyd, Carter, and greenup Counties (Northeast Region):
Key Players: tri-County ASAP Board, UNITE Boyd County/Champions Coalition, Healthy Choices Healthy Communities workgroup, University of Kentucky’s King’s Daughters Medical Center/Pathways, Carter, Greenup and Boyd county Fast Response Team, Ramey-Estep/Re-group. Focus: A collaborative regional approach resulting in “The Neighborhood” - a one-stop center offering essential services and addiction treatment. Also leverages partnerships with medical centers and quick response teams for outreach.
* Quote: Scott Murphy emphasizes the region’s commitment to supporting recovery, changing lives, and building a resilient future.
Overall:
The article demonstrates a common thread across these communities: collaboration and a comprehensive approach to addressing addiction. They all involve multiple organizations working together to provide prevention, treatment, recovery support, and essential services to those in need.
Further Data: The article provides a link to learn more and apply for Recovery Ready Community certification: https://rrcky.org/
