Round Three Taskforce Grant Recipients

The DuPage County Heroin/Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Taskforce has announced the award of grants to local government and community organizations to expand their capabilities in the fight against the opioid crisis in the County. 

Overview of Grant Awardees

• DuPage County Adult Probation - $25,000. The grant will support the linkage of 40 probation clients most at risk of opioid overdose death with a recovery coach from the community to support them in their recovery.
• Path to Recovery Foundation - $25,000. The funds will provide Peer-Based Recovery Support Services to individuals in early recovery in DuPage County.
• Serenity House Counseling, Inc. - $24,882. The funding will support the provision of harm reduction treatment services to clients through Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).

Taskforce Framework

The proposals serve DuPage County residents and align with two priority aspects of the HOPE Taskforce Framework: increase overdose response and provide integrated mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery.

Grant Funding

The grant funding is made possible by the DuPage County Board, which has agreed to provide $100,000 annually to support the work of the HOPE Taskforce.

Project Descriptions

Path to Recovery Foundation

Path to Recovery Foundation is working to become the first Recovery Community Organization (RCO) in DuPage County. Building from Path’s experience as a family support group for those that suffer from substance use disorder, there are a number of needs in the community that Path is attempting to address. 

The RCO that is being developed seeks to assist those in early recovery through reintegration programs (employment, education), referral networks (providers, sober living facilities), onsite support groups (SMART Recovery), public benefits assistance, and social connection. Other workshops will address HIV education and Grief Support along with continued efforts at harm reduction through distribution of Narcan and Fentanyl strips. Establishing partnerships with other entities in DuPage County will provide another resource and level of support. 

To prevent relapse, Path will have ten trained Recovery Coaches on its team. Peer Based Recovery Organizations have demonstrated success in assisting individuals in their recovery journey. 

Path will continue to provide resources and guidance to families.  It is Path’s belief that the health and well-being of the families and loved ones are an integral part of the recovery process; recovery is necessary for all affected by this disease.

DuPage County Adult Probation

DuPage County Adult Probation is implementing a project entitled Recovery Coaches: Strengths-Based Support for Addiction. 

Coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, DuPage County Adult Probation has seen an increase is isolative and using behavior from clients and has seen an increase in suspected and confirmed opioid overdose deaths.  The department, working closely with other judicial and treatment agency partners, has several programs that address Substance Use Disorder (SUD) client’s criminogenic risks and resultant needs.  Dedicated and caring probation officers, supervisors and staff are assigned to Drug Court, First Offender Call Unified for Success (FOCUS), Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), and Adult Redeploy Initiative caseloads.  Additionally, many officers supervising general caseloads have clients who have tested positive for opiates.  While these probation officers have tremendous skill and compassion in working with SUD clients, the use of Recovery Coaches is a missing piece to fill some of the gaps.  Recovery Coaches will concentrate on enhancing family and peer relationships; promoting sober living; addressing sobriety challenges; assisting with employment opportunities and promoting self-care and wellness.

DuPage County Adult Probation will identify up to 40 current probation clients who fit a majority of the following:

• Are assessed as medium or high-risk to re-offend;
• have a history of recent opiate use with emphasis given to Fentanyl users;
• Have recently been released or discharged from a custodial setting;
• Are self-isolative or lack strong pro-social connections;
• Have recently relapsed after a period of sustained abstinence;
• Have a history of poly-substance use.

Clients in these categories indicate a higher risk to experience an opiate overdose.  While the relationship between probation officer and client is critical, engaging the client’s natural community, including family and peer groups, schools, employment, treatment agencies and pro-social leisure activities, is critical for obtaining and maintaining sobriety.  The use of Recovery Coaches will assist in this effort.

Serenity House Counseling Services, Inc.

Serenity House Counseling Services, Inc. is a nonprofit, community based, comprehensive treatment facility offering services to those recovering from substance use and co-occurring disorders.  Serenity House Counseling services, Inc, incorporates the harm reduction Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) approach servicing individuals prescribed an opioid antagonist such as Naloxone, Buprenorphine, Suboxone, Vivitrol, and Naltrexone.          

The MAT Harm Reduction Program includes an evidenced-based curriculum for clients.  These services include focused group and individual sessions.  

 The program also incorporates evidenced based treatment, Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).  MRT is a cognitive-behavioral treatment that leads to enhanced moral reasoning, better decision making, and more positive outcome behavior.  MRT certified (trained) facilitators and clinical professionals facilitate weekly groups, utilizing MRT workbook exercises and homework.  Drug Courts recommend MRT as its preferred evidenced-based treatment for positive outcomes.  

 MAT/MRT clinicians provide effective interventions for individuals taking the harm-reduction medications, including group and individual counseling, case management, medication monitoring, assistance in obtaining MAT medications, and increased consistency with doctor appointments. 

To contact Serenity House about this program, call 630-620-6616, extension 102.