Public Health and Public Safety Resources
The Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) conducts an annual initiative-wide cornerstone project. These projects answer common questions or address shared informational needs that affect the ORS region as a whole. These projects focus on a different priority topic each year and build upon evidence-based practices to reduce overdose. Read the 2021 Overdose Response Strategy Cornerstone Report: A Review of Public Safety, Public Health, and Harm Reduction Resources on Stimulants.
The Public Health and Safety Teams (PHAST) Toolkit [PDF – 123 pages] was developed by the CDC Foundation and CDC, with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, to assist city, county, or municipal public health and public safety agencies interested in working collaboratively to reduce overdose deaths. This toolkit is designed to be a printable resource that describes key activities for achieving the goals of PHAST. Additional resources and tools to support key activities and offer guidance for more in-depth processes are available at PHAST.org.
The Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder in Jails and Prisons: A Planning and Implementation Toolkit includes real-world guidance, lessons learned, and concrete “how to” steps for implementing MAT in criminal justice settings. It was developed through a partnership with CDC and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
The Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) Practitioner’s Guide for Implementation is a nationally recognized model being used by a growing number of communities to strengthen their community-based responses to the opioid overdose epidemic. This toolkit is a companion document to the Public Health and Safety Team (PHAST) Toolkit and helps communities plan, implement, and evaluate OFRs. It is designed for multiple audiences including public health, public safety, criminal justice, drug treatment, and social services.
Expanding Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Corrections and Community Settings: A Roadmap for States to Reduce Opioid Use Disorder for People in the Justice System highlights existing state efforts and serves as a policy development tool for governors and other state officials. The resource helps leaders to bolster existing efforts to address opioid use disorder among people involved in the justice system by expanding access to evidence-based medications. The roadmap was created through a partnership with CDC and the National Governors Association (NGA).
The Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion (DPAD) to Prevent Opioid Overdose Tools and Resources Package supports the adoption and implementation of DPAD programs to better support people at risk of opioid overdose. These resources were informed by real-world experiences shared through key information interviews and roundtables with diverse stakeholders implementing DPAD across the country. The tools were created through a partnership between CDC and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
The Public Safety-led Community-oriented Overdose Prevention Efforts (PS-COPE) Toolkit is a new approach to overdose prevention and response for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities. It combines three proven models to enhance overdose prevention and response: trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented systems of care and procedural justice.
This toolkit is for public safety agency leaders and administrators who are looking to enhance existing overdose prevention and response efforts within BIPOC communities they serve. The toolkit was created through a partnership with CDC and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, with support from the CDC, has created a series of free, self-paced courses on overdose prevention and response for community corrections to provide critical information on substance use disorders, training in evidence-based overdose prevention practices and the skills needed to build trust and rapport with people under supervision. Two series of courses are available–one for supervision officers and the other for supervision leaders and administrators.
