The Okmulgee Board of County Commissioners are glad to announce the receipt of a $300,000 grant from the Oklahoma State Office of the Attorney General’s Opioid Abatement Board to address the opioid crisis. This grant will support a comprehensive project aimed at intervention, medical detox, care linkage, recovery support, GED education, and services for pregnant and parenting individuals.
The Okmulgee Board of County Commissioners are glad to announce the receipt of a $300,000 grant from the Oklahoma State Office of the Attorney General’s Opioid Abatement Board to address the opioid crisis. This grant will support a comprehensive project aimed at intervention, medical detox, care linkage, recovery support, GED education, and services for pregnant and parenting individuals.
The county has brought to- gether community partners including the County Sheriff ’s Office and jail administration, Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Community Wellness Programs (CWP) and Center for Rural Health (CRH), and Family & Children’s Services (FCS).
Chetana Musapeta, Assistant Director at the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Center for Rural Health (CRH) said, “The additional funding will expand peer support networks to provide more personalized care, peer-led programs and create treatment plans for individuals currently incarcerated to ensure a smooth transition upon release and promote long-term recovery and community resilience.”
The community-centered initiative builds on the successful collaboration with FCS’s Parenting in Jail program and expands this partnership to include jailbased GED education. Post-release programs will continue to provide ongoing support and educational opportunities.
Jon Keim, Director of Community Outreach for Okmulgee County Criminal Justice Authority stated, “We are glad to see opioid abatement funding support vital programs like Parenting in Jail, jail-based GED education, and addiction education within the jail. These initiatives are crucial in helping incarcerated individuals begin and sustain their recovery journey and prepare for successful reintegration into the community.”
Jail-based Addiction Education funded by the grant will offer people in jail an introduction to understanding substance use disorders and the recovery process. The course covers addiction, triggers, the cycle of addiction, suicide, and treatment, aiming to destigmatize addiction and enhance treatment readiness.
Mimi Tarrasch, Chief Program Officer of the Women’s Justice Programs at Family & Children’s Services, ex-
