Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) serves as the single state agency (SSA) for substance use grants according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). DHS is currently utilizing its fourth iteration of receiving and distributing State Opioid Response funding. Special thanks to SAMHSA for its continued support in funding mental health and substance use projects in the State of Arkansas for many years.

Below are the initiatives supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through grant # 1H79TI087824 awarded to the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Aging, Adult and Behavioral Health Services Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (OSAMH), broken up by Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery services. 

Prevention

Naloxone Distribution

DHS partnered with End Overdose and Regional Prevention Providers to distribute Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal agent, across the state. Arkansas is currently 100% saturated with Naloxone, according to calculation rate of kits distributed to need, and is working to continue to distribute resources to organizations and agencies. End Overdose also provides education opportunities in English, Spanish, Marshallese, and Vietnamese and attends public awareness events related to Naloxone training or overdose.

Prevention Infrastructure

DHS partnered with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, MidSOUTH (MidSOUTH) to strengthen the infrastructure of the prevention workforce within the state. Members of the workforce have the opportunity to participate in free, evidence-based continued education opportunities pertaining to prevention. 

Arkansas Collegiate Network

DHS partnered with both Arkansas Foundations for Medical Care (AFMC) and End Overdose to develop and implement Prevention and Recovery Programs within members of the Arkansas Collegiate Network (ACN), including 4-year universities, community colleges, and technical schools. This project is currently late in the development stage with 6 programs approved at 4 schools.

Treatment

MOUD Hub & Spoke

DHS has partnered with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to provide a full spectrum of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Treatment services through their Center for Addiction Services and Treatment (CAST). These services currently include consultations, virtual healthcare community meetings (Project Echo), and direct MOUD services. Using the Hub & Spoke Model, UAMS 10 treatment programs to provide direct services throughout the State of Arkansas, enhancing access to treatment services for those who have certain barriers like transportation or provider availability. 

Justice Involved

DHS has partnered with Arkansas Community Corrections (ACC) Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program to provide services for individuals reentering society following incarceration. Resources provided to participants within this program include monthly educational sessions, drug screening, counseling, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), naloxone, case management, and group support. 

Maternal Health

DHS has partnered with several providers to execute great work related to Specialized Women’s Services. 

Family Centered Treatment-Recovery (FCT-R) is an innovative practice and systems-of-care model that weaves together the evidence-based Family Centered Treatment® model and best practices in substance use treatment. FCT-R is in the beginning implementation stages with 3 approved providers in the State of Arkansas. These providers include Arkansas CARES, Harbor House, and Arkansas River Valley Area Council (ARVAC).

Arkansas Foundations for Medical Care (AFMC) completed a needs assessment exploring barriers to treatment for individuals within the SWS programs in Arkansas. A Microsite was built as a virtual toolkit to address barriers such as state-funded benefits, additional resources, and provider collaboration. 

River Valley Medical Wellness meets people where they are to reduce risks associated with substance use during pregnancy, improve health outcomes, and connect participants to comprehensive care. 

Services include:

• Screening 
• Counseling
• Case Management
• Providing Resources (Pregnancy Backpacks)
• Education on Health Pregnancy and Parenting
• Referrals to Treatment and Recovery Supports

Youth & Young People

DHS has partnered with River Valley Medical Wellness to provide direct recovery support services within the Arkansas Division of Youth Services (DYS), Arkansas Juvenile Assessment & Treatment Center (AJATC). Peer Recovery group sessions are facilitated with both female and male young people once per week. Training and resource materials are also provided to relevant partner agencies, such as AJATC staff. 

Here you will find an example of the materials distributed during a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Training conducted by River Valley Medical Wellness.

Workforce Development

DHS has partnered with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, MidSOUTH (MidSOUTH) to provide free training and technical assistance on evidence-based practices within the State of Arkansas. Some attendees include healthcare providers, mental health professionals, peer workers, social workers, and other individuals engaged with supporting treatment, recovery, and wellness. 

Recovery

RCO Development

DHS partnered with Arkansas Alliance of Recovery Centered Organizations (AARCO) to provide funding for direct peer recovery services distributed through a Hub & Spoke Model. AARCO distributes SOR funding to 4 state-approved Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) who then employ 10 peer workers to provide direct services within 12 organizations as well as their surrounding communities. These organizations range from detention center programs to shelters. 

AARCO is also tasked with providing training and technical assistance to organizations around the state who are emerging RCOs. 

Peer Services in Specialty Courts

DHS has partnered with Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to provide funding for direct peer recovery services distributed through a Hub & Spoke Model. AOC distributes funding to 25 Specialty Courts who then employ 23 peer workers to provide direct services to specialty court participants as well as their surrounding communities.

Types of specialty courts currently supported include:

• Drug Courts
• DWI Courts
• Mental Health Courts
• Juvenile Drug Courts

Download the Specialty Court Peers Workers Map

Housing Affiliate Development

DHS has partnered with Arkansas Alliance of Recovery Residences (AARR) to bring a nationally recognized standard of recovery housing to the State of Arkansas using National Alliance of Recovery Residences (NARR) Standards. There are currently 17 NARR-certified residences within the state who are categorized under 1 of the 4 levels of NARR Standards. AARR is now an affiliate of NARR, meaning they have the ability to accredit recovery residences in Arkansas with NARR Certification, following a process of inspections and site visits. 

Through SOR funding, AARR also has the ability to award residences of these NARR-certified homes with indigent funding for up to 40 days after they move in. 

Credentialing

DHS has partnered with NAADAC, The Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) to manage all aspect of credentialing related to the Arkansas Peer Recovery Program. NAADAC executes training applications, testing, credential tracking, certification, and the Arkansas Peer Ethics Review Board (APERB) for the entire state of Arkansas. They have had great success so far in their endeavor to transfer the certified peer recovery workforce under the National Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) credential, providing reciprocity to and from peer recovery services delivered across the nation. 

Digital Peer Services

DHS has partnered with CHESS Health to provide the free Connections and Companions applications. 

The Connections app is designed for people working toward recovery from substance use or mental health challenges. It includes:

• 24/7 peer support from trained specialists
• Daily check-ins to track progress
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tools to manage cravings and difficult moments
• Online community for sharing experiences and celebrating milestones
• Virtual meetings on a variety of topics, including some for specific audiences
• Resource library 

The Companion app is for family, friends, and caregivers who support someone in recovery. It offers:

• Private caregiver community for sharing experiences and advice
• Educational materials on treatment, recovery, and medication
• Daily encouragement and guided journaling tools
• Discussion forums for emotional support