Posted: Wednesday, April 01, 2015
The Providence Center's AnchorED program is a finalist in the Scattergood Foundation's Innovation Award, which recognizes innovations that advance behavioral health policy and practice. The winner receives $25,000 prize. Winners are selected by public vote on the Scattergood Foundation's website through April 15.
AnchorED connects individuals who have presented at the emergency room with an opioid overdose with recovery services. Prior to being released, a peer recovery coach from Anchor Recovery Community Center meets with the patient to introduce them to recovery supports and resources that will help keep them on the road to recovery. Recovery coaches play an important role in helping individuals avoid another overdose and encouraging them to stay engaged in treatment. Outreach includes:
- Linking individuals to treatment and recovery resources
- Providing education on overdose, prevention and on obtaining Naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose when administered
- Providing additional resources to individuals and family members
- Contacting the individual after they are released from the ED with a follow-up phone call
Recovery coaches are on call during weekends at Kent, Memorial, Rhode Island, Miriam, Newport, Hasbro and Landmark hospitals. AnchorED was created by The Providence Center, the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals and Anchor Recovery Community Centers in response to Rhode Island's increasing number of opioid overdose deaths.
