For the third consecutive year, EVALCORP has had the honor of collaborating with our long-term partner and client, Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH), at the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, held this year in Nashville, Tennessee. Our joint efforts continue to spotlight impactful outcomes in combating the opioid crisis.
Showcasing Collaborative Successes
At this year’s Summit, Dr. Kristen Donovan, Dr. Gabrielle Walker, and Lorena Roque from our team, were honored to share the excellent work conducted across Ventura County involving multiple system partner organizations via poster presentation. VCBH, in collaboration with the Medical Examiner’s Office and Sheriff’s Office, shared insights from an initiative to track and reduce fatal overdoses among individuals recently released from jail. This population was identified as a significant subset of the individuals who died from overdoses in the county. The poster we presented showcased the cross-agency, data-informed approach to developing and assessing the effectiveness of interventions for these individuals – highlighting significant reductions in opioid-related fatalities within Ventura County.
Lorena Roque and Dr. Gabrielle Walker
Antony Del Castillo Schickram (Idea Engineering), Dan Hicks (VCBH), Simon Dixon (Idea Engineering), Jen Corey (Idea Engineering),
Engaging with National Leaders
The Summit provided a platform to connect with stakeholders across prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, law enforcement, first responders, and advocacy. Discussions centered around best practices, policy developments, and innovative approaches to prevention and treatment.
The importance of data-informed strategies is evidenced by the collaborative efforts across Ventura County, and the number of lives saved year over year. We look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting Ventura County in reducing the harms associated with opioid use, improving community well-being, and implementing measurable and impactful behavioral health services to save lives.