Children's Dental Services

Opioids are the leading cause of Minnesota's overdose deaths increasing 17-fold over the past 20 years. Five rural, underserved counties collectively had a more than 10% increase in nonfatal opioid overdoses in 2020 compared to 2019. Native Americans experienced a 27% increase in that 1 year period and are 10 times more likely to die than white Minnesotans. The target counties experienced higher rates of poverty and unemployment, worse health outcomes, and higher Health Professional Shortage Area designations. Between 2019 and 2020 the diagnoses of NAS at birth increased over 12%. RCORP-NAS PLUS will expand services to address preconception, prenatal and labor/delivery needs for individuals at risk of OUD/SUD misuse, short- and long-term reduction of harm related to OUD/SUD-related illness for postpartum target populations in five, fully rural, low-income counties: Itasca, Lyon, Nobles, Redwood, and Wilkin. Additionally, a Native American Liaison & Opioid Use Disorder Prevention Taskforce will engage regional tribal communities and create adapted services. Applying a community-based approach building on successes of past and current RCORP work, NAS PLUS will engage target communities using evidence-based approaches to expand access to NAS services developed by four partners: CDS, Ross Resources, SMOC, Inc. and Wilkin County Public Health access to NAS services will be expanded by at least 25% across the region making NAS resources accessible for a target rural population of 114,143. NAS PLUS will involve practitioners, teen parents, immigrant, Tribal and other BIPOC community groups in implementing innovative, evidence-based approaches to expanding access to NAS services. Results, assessing short- and long-term objectives, will guide continuous quality improvement in improving systems of care, family supports, and social determinants of health for pregnant and postpartum mothers and their families suffering from or at risk of opioid use disorder.