The Hendry, Okeechobee, and Glades Opiate Consortium (HOGOC) is a group of agencies, individuals, and governmental entities working together to reduce the harm caused by opiate misuse in three rural south Florida counties. These counties suffer from a lack of service providers for mental health and substance use issues, even though the surrounding counties have dozens of providers. Spearheaded by the Hanley Foundation, HOGOC is bringing services to residents, providing harm reduction strategies (including recovery support services), and implementing youth prevention models. Typical HOGOC participation is between 25 and 30 members at the quarterly meetings, currently held virtually due to COVID.
HOGOC is currently working with the Hendry County Jail to provide naloxone to every inmate upon release or transfer from the jail. A naloxone kit, including a handout with useful information and local resources, is placed in each inmate’s personal effects so they receive it upon release. The jail is providing naloxone to an average of 35 inmates per month with this program, which is one of the first of its kind in Florida.
HOGOC has also provided funding to purchase and install two telehealth stations in a local nonprofit agency for use by the community. As local providers are scarce and cell service and Internet coverage is poor in these counties, this opens up opportunities for residents to reach a counselor or physician in another county who can provide telemedicine for them. HOGOC partners Hanley Foundation and New Horizons of the Treasure Coast are also providing the Botvin LifeSkills Prescription Drug Module for middle and high school students throughout the three counties as part of youth prevention efforts.
Most recently, HOGOC has supported the opening of a Recovery Community Center, currently called the HOGOC Clubhouse, for use by the recovery community. The clubhouse provides a safe space for sponsor meetings, group sessions, or a quick escape from stress for someone in recovery. A HOGOC-sponsored peer support specialist works from the clubhouse, providing support for those in need. Although both the telehealth stations and recovery clubhouse programs are housed in Okeechobee County, HOGOC plans to mirror these programs in Hendry County and start a jail-based naloxone program with the Okeechobee County Jail.
The Hanley Foundation envisions a world free of addiction, leading the way as the largest provider of educational programs that prevent underage drinking in Florida. In addition to offering treatment scholarships to those in need and facilitating trainings to identify the signs of substance misuse, the Foundation works to reduce stigma and change policy through its advocacy efforts. The Foundation’s mission is to eliminate addiction through prevention, advocacy, treatment, and recovery support.
If you are interested in supporting HOGOC or have any questions concerning our consortium or programs, please contact Ryan Wertepny, Chief Program Officer for Hanley Foundation, at ryan@hanleyfoundation.org or Christopher Glymph, Program Coordinator for Hanley Foundation, at christopher@hanleyfoundation.org. For more information on Hanley Foundation, please call 561-268-2355 or visit hanleyfoundation.org.