START-SD

START-SD is a federal program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through four Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grants to complete work to increase access to and effectiveness of prevention, treatment and recovery services for substance use disorders in South Dakota.

Our current project, START-SD Impact, is a four-year program focused on providing support for individuals transitioning out of SD prison systems and their love ones through peer support programs, workforce development, and SUD treatment, prevention, and recovery.

START-SD-Impact will provide substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and support services to adults aged 18-54 in Hughes, Bon Homme, Yankton and Codington counties, focusing on inmates transitioning out of the South Dakota’s Women Prison, the Mike Durfee State Prison, and the Yankton Minimum Security Unit, individuals who are justice-impacted, and the families and loved-ones of both. The prevalence of SUD is a growing problem throughout the rural state of South Dakota, precipitating a need for expanded and newly established treatment, recovery, and prevention services. We intend to decrease rates of post-release overdose, decrease rates of recidivism, and provide justice-involved individuals who have SUD with the resources they need to successfully reenter their communities and recover from SUD/OUD.

START-SD-Impact has seven key objectives:

1. Expanding MAT/MOUD, Counseling and Behavioral Therapy

2. Establishing Peer Coaching

3. Expanding Reentry Programming and Services

4. Developing the Workforce through Training and Education

5.Providing Post-Reentry Support

6. Supporting Loved Ones and Growing Community

7. Increasing Community Engagement, Awareness and Anti-Stigma

To complete this work, the START-SD team is partnering with the South Dakota Department of Corrections,Face-IT-TOGETHER, St. Dysmas of South Dakota and Brothers and Sisters Behind Bars.