Alameda County's Opioid Affected Youth Initiative

The OJJDP FY 2018 Opioid Affected Youth Initiative will fund sites to develop a data-driven coordinated response to identify and address challenges resulting from opioid abuse that are impacting youth and community safety. Category 1: Implementing Data-Driven Strategies and Programs Through Strategic Partnerships will support states, units of local government, and/or tribal governments to (1) develop a multidisciplinary task force with working groups to identify specific areas of concern; (2) collect and interpret data that will assist the task force in developing strategies and programming that will be used to better coordinate response efforts and resources; and (3) implement services that will address public safety concerns, intervention, prevention, and diversion services for children, youth, and families directly impacted by opioid abuse.

The Alameda County Probation Department, in strategic partnership with the Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association’s East Bay Safe Prescribing Coalition, will use funding to establish and implement the Alameda County Opioid Affected Youth Initiative – a collaborative effort by the East Bay law enforcement, medical community, consumers, and community leaders. The project will promote safe and appropriate prescription drug practices, reduce prescription drug abuse, and reduce the impact of opioid misuse on children, youth and families through data-driven approaches focused on public safety, accountability, and life skills. Information gathering and the development of strategic partnerships will be a key outcome of this initiative and will ensure that the most critical needs of youth in Alameda County are met. CA/NCF