Substitute
Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 7
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): District 7
To Appropriate American Rescue Plan Grant Funds Assigned to POETA Account 105744.63258.521209.01.07.602479 Reserved For The District 7 Appropriation To The MARR Addiction Treatment Centers To Mitigate The Public Health Emergency Created By The COVID-19 Pandemic
Body
Information Contact: Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson
Phone Number: 404-371-2899
PURPOSE:
To approve the appropriation of $125,000 from the America Rescue Plan grant funds assigned to the account reserved for District 7 to the MARR Addiction Treatment Centers for the purpose of providing addiction treatment services to clients who are suffering from substance abuse fueled by the COVID-19, as well as mitigate the public health emergency created by the pandemic.
NEED/IMPACT:
The $125,000 appropriation will be used to provide addiction treatment and support services to clients and their children who are suffering from substance abuse and have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through MARR’s Right Side Up (RSU) program. The RSU program will assist clients in achieving and maintaining long-term recovery in residence with their children, who also receive comprehensive services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the existing epidemic of addiction. Since March 2020, 13% of individuals surveyed in a recent CDC study reported new or increased use of substances. During the pandemic, drug overdoses rose by an average 30%. Overdose deaths in Georgia alone rose by nearly 40%, particularly as a result of fentanyl-related fatalities. The pandemic has directly increased stressors and isolation, which are major risk factors for substance abuse. Populations served by the MARR Addiction Centers are directly affected by these conditions, as women and minorities with lower educational attainment are one of the fastest growing demographics for substance abuse disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. MARR is working to help end the crisis of addiction for new and existing clients and mitigate the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
FISCAL IMPACT:
To appropriate an amount not to exceed $125,000 from POETA Account # 105744.63258.521209.01.07.602479 to the MARR Addiction Centers to provide addiction treatment services to clients who are suffering from substance abuse to mitigate the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the resolution and authorize the chief executive officer to execute all necessary documents.