Nevada Department of Health and Human Services

The subcommittee meeting centered on reviewing funded programs and projects for opioid prevention, with a specific focus on identifying strategies to support youth. Key discussions included an assessment of current initiatives, such as education campaigns, ACES education, and family-based prevention strategies, as well as the identification of gaps in reaching hard-to-reach youth populations. Members explored potential outreach opportunities, such as community events, and considered adjustments to program objectives to better address opioid misuse and overdose risks for students and families.

The meeting focused on the Data and SDOH subcommittee kickoff, reviewing funded programs and projects related to the Fund for Resilient Nevada, and discussing the Nevada opioid needs assessment and statewide plan. Key topics included identifying demographic characteristics for controlled substance prescriptions, implementing pre-release initiatives for incarcerated individuals, and evaluating existing data collection and reporting strategies. The committee discussed refining recommendations for future planning cycles and identifying actionable steps for addressing social determinants of health and substance use disorder outcomes.

The committee reviewed subaward funding requests for suicide prevention and child safety programs. Key discussion topics included evaluating applications from various organizations such as the Carson City School District, Community Chest, and Hope Means Nevada. The committee assessed the necessity of stipends for mentors, CAMS training for mental health professionals, and the implementation of youth mental wellness outreach programs. Discussions also addressed the importance of ensuring suicide prevention messaging is relevant and accessible to students across the state.

The committee discussed the role of subcommittees, focusing on categories such as prevention, response, treatment, and data collection. The meeting also included a presentation regarding the statewide opioid needs assessment and plan, highlighting the timeline for development, primary and secondary data collection efforts, and strategies for reaching specific populations. Additionally, the committee addressed the need for feedback on a draft survey while emphasizing security measures to prevent fraudulent responses.

The committee meeting covered housekeeping items, including meeting protocols, communication guidelines under the Open Meeting Law, and the process for establishing a quorum. Committee members received a presentation on the history of the Fund for Resilient Nevada, its administrative structure under the Department of Human Services, and the mechanisms for the distribution of opioid settlement recoveries to the state and local governments. The roles and responsibilities of the advisory committee members were also outlined.