McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Foundation

Ohio has been at the forefront of the addiction crisis since the opiate epidemic emerged in the early 2000's. Butler County’s 204 unintentional drug overdose deaths accounted for 4.1% of the state’s overall total in 2020. Oxford Township is a HRSA-designated rural area located within Butler County. Within Oxford Township, there is an approximate population of 23,035 individuals. Oxford Township comprises approximately 5.9% of the population of Butler County; however, due to its rural nature, this area faces unique challenges in prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for both mental health and substance use disorders within the community. Within Oxford Township, there are just over 3,000 students enrolled in K-12 within the Talawanda School District, as well as over 18,800 students from 50 states and 79 countries enrolled at Miami University. This unique mix of community members, K-12 students, and a diverse university population poses the need for a multi-system network of community and school resources, as well as integration of services as these populations interact every day. Oxford Township also faces challenges due to a 45.1% poverty level. To address the needs of this community, a seven-member consortium team will be convened, representing education, healthcare, and prevention. The consortium members will implement prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives that address both mental health and substance use, individually addressing the needs of the educational, healthcare, and treatment sectors while also building collaborations and relationships with other sectors, such as social services and first responders.