Rural Opioid Family Mentoring Program

The Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative, Category 4 (Project Sites and Mentoring Strategies for Youth Impacted by Opioids) supports youth mentoring organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a public or private substance abuse treatment agency. The focus of this category is to provide mentoring services as a part of a prevention, treatment and supportive approach for those youth impacted by opioids. This program is authorized and funded pursuant to Pub. L. No. 115-141, 132 Stat. 348, 423.

The Rural Opioid Family Mentoring Program seeks to eliminate generational opioid addiction in the Rutland Region of Vermont through youth and family mentoring. The program will provide 180 high-risk youth and families who are affected by opioid addiction with mentoring services aimed at eliminating generational opioid abuse and increasing sustainability, resilience, and prosocial behavior. This innovative project uses three components—one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring, and family mentoring—to work in unison to promote protective factors while reducing risk factors within youth and their families. These components work to ensure high-risk youth have the best chance of success in life and in the workplace. Youth living with a family member currently using or who has used opioids, or who is living in the vicinity of opioid use as indicated during intake, will receive high priority. Referrals will come from West Ridge Center/Rutland Regional Medical Center and other medication-assisted programs, area school districts, Rutland County Diversion Center, area police departments, Rutland County courts, and area social service organizations. The goals of this program are to increase the life skills and protective factors for high-risk youth affected by opioid abuse to enable them to live productive and successful lives.

CA/NCF