Project: Aligning the Recovery Ecosystem in the Appalachian Highlands
Project Period: August 2021 – August 2024
Care Foundation of America, Inc.
Overview: The ETSU Addiction Science Center (ASC) received funding from the Care Foundation of America on July 23, 2021 and began working towards the stated project goals in August of 2021. Project goals stemmed from the need to prioritize regional gaps within the recovery ecosystem in order to responsibly allocate Sullivan Baby Doe and Tennessee Opioid Abatement dollars. This prioritization process would not have been possible without the newly formed Regional Recovery Ecosystem Advisory Council, led by ETSU ASC and the President and CEO of Frontier Health, Kristie Hammonds. This council is comprised of experts that engage with the addiction and recovery field and have meaningful insight into the experiences within the Northeast Tennessee region.
The Regional Recovery Ecosystem Advisory Council (RREAC) has compiled priorities to strengthen Northeast Tennessee’s recovery ecosystem. The four main categories include Prevention and Education, Treatment and Recovery, Connection to Care, and Housing and Transportation. The RREAC will continue to check in on the status of priority and objective progression at least annually and will revisit these recommendations with future modifications.