The opioid epidemic has significantly impacted Erie County, NY, necessitating a community-engaged, strategic, and data-driven approach to effectively utilize opioid settlement funds. The University at Buffalo’s Primary Care Research Institute will implement a Community Feedback System using a Community Advisory Group (CAG) approach, to create a comprehensive community needs assessment, collect and analyze data, and evaluate the impact of settlement fund usage.
As part of the needs assessment, we will conduct surveys, focus groups and/or interviews with stakeholders, including health care providers, community organizations, and residents. We will analyze data on opioid misuse, treatment access, and other relevant factors and identify priority areas for intervention.
A key component of this proposal is the creation of an effective Community Feedback System that can be used for continuous improvement of the County’s Opioid Settlement Fund usage. Community-member feedback based on lived experience is a vital tool for improving the quality of services. An established feedback system from the community will create an effective interaction between service users and service providers that is a key component for creating an environment that is responsive to the needs of those most affected by, or at risk of, opioid. As the County seeks to move forward in addressing the opioid crisis (or other potential future challenges), there will be a continuing emphasis to put the community members at the center of their care and well-being – which can be aided through an effective community feedback system.
Bonnie M. Vest, PhD (Co-Investigator)
Matthew Thomas, PhD (Co-Investigator)
Erie County Department of Health - [01/01/2025-12/31/2029]
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