University of Tennessee

Since 2018, the Rural Community Opioid Response Program-East Tennessee Consortium (RCORP-ETC) has applied research-based evidence and community expertise to address prevention, treatment, and recovery related to opioid use disorder (OUD). Overall, the RCORP-ETC, managed by the University of Tennessee (UT), has 157 members, affiliated with 33 organizations. Representation includes justice, education, child protection, faith, workforce development, and many others; creating an interdisciplinary approach to OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery. Five RCORP-ETC organizations will build on RCORP-ETC’s current momentum: (1) UT, (2) ICARe-Union County; (3) Live Free-Claiborne; (4) The Hill-Claiborne, and (5) United Methodist Church of Newport, TN. Jarrod Vick, DPharm of CockeCounty, an individual member of the RCORP-ETC, will also serve as key personnel with COURAGE. COURAGE will address two overarching goals: (1) prevent opioid use disorder (OUD) with an emphasis on youth and the adults who care for them and (2) enhance OUD treatment and recovery by promoting integrated, interdisciplinary care. Activities related to OUD/SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery will focus on youth prevention and workforce development in relation to MOUD expansion, pharmacist and OUD, and faith-based communities