‘Resolve, To Create a Pilot Project To Reduce Substance Use Disorders among Youth in Piscataquis County To Be Used as a Model for All Maine Communities’
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. Piscataquis County Substance Use Disorder Prevention Pilot Project established. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall establish the Piscataquis County Substance Use Disorder Prevention Pilot Project, referred to in this resolve as "the pilot project," to provide a comprehensive, evidence-informed program in selected Piscataquis County communities and schools with the goal of reducing the harmful effects of substance use disorder and addiction. The pilot project must use established and emerging best practices for prevention, screening, early intervention, public education and community and family supports to prevent addiction, improve resiliency and promote public health and safety. The Department of Health and Human Services shall contract with the following 3 local nonprofit entities that have expertise in managing and in reducing the harmful effects of substance use disorder and addiction to administer the pilot project: Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, which must act as the fiscal agent for the project; Mayo Regional Hospital; and Helping Hands with Heart. These organizations shall work with schools, health professionals, law enforcement agencies, municipal and county officials, youth-serving organizations, community groups and other interested groups and individuals in Piscataquis County to plan, implement, evaluate and report on the pilot project. No later than October 1, 2017, the department shall establish the pilot project and contract for the services described in section 2 in the Piscataquis County area; and be it further
Sec. 2. Services provided under the pilot project. Resolved: That, to the extent resources allocated to the pilot project permit, the pilot project must include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Employing one full-time person to lead and manage the implementation of the pilot project;
2. Engaging outside consultants with expertise in planning, evaluation, training and technical assistance;
3. Convening community partners in collaborative leadership to plan and implement the pilot project and leverage local, state and federal resources;
4. Training school staff and others working with priority populations;
5. Screening and providing early intervention to children and families most at risk for substance use disorder and its related implications;
6. Building family, school and community capacity to mitigate trauma and improve resiliency;
7. Promoting understanding of and decreasing stigma surrounding substance use disorder; and
8. Conducting a professional evaluation of the pilot project and reporting on the pilot project's effectiveness and potential ease of replication in other communities that are being affected by substance use disorders and addiction; and be it further
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services no later than November 30, 2018 an evaluation report outlining the planning and implementation of the pilot project pursuant to sections 1 and 2, details regarding funding expenditures and quantitative and qualitative data and replicability of the pilot project. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters may report out legislation related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature; and be it further
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 0679
Initiative: Provides funding to implement a comprehensive and evidence-informed pilot project to reduce substance use disorder and addiction in Piscataquis County.
| GENERAL FUND | 2017-18 | 2018-19 |
|
All Other
|
$160,000 | $190,000 |
 |
|
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL | $160,000 | $190,000 |
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, and is the minority report of the committee. The amendment establishes a pilot project in Piscataquis County to plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive, evidence-informed program to prevent substance use disorder and addiction that may be used as a model for other Maine communities. The pilot project must be administered by the following 3 local nonprofit entities that have expertise in management and in reducing the harmful effects of substance use disorder and addiction: Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, which must act as the fiscal agent for the project; Mayo Regional Hospital; and Helping Hands with Heart. The amendment includes an appropriation of $350,000 over the 2018-2019 fiscal biennium. The Department of Health and Human Services must convey the contracted evaluation and replicability report of the project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters no later than November 30, 2018, and the committee may report out legislation related to the report to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)