The Fayette County Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Implementation (RCORP-I) project is a community/academic partnership between the Indiana University School of Public Health and the Fayette County Connection Café (the Connection Café) in Connersville, IN. As our flagship, the Connection Café launched the first year of the grant, providing harm reduction and recovery services to Fayette County, and has since expanded reach to surrounding counties as one of IN’s Regional Recovery Hubs. Its implementation was originally scheduled to occur midway through our second year of the RCORP-I grant. However, through a tremendous amount of community support and volunteering of services, the Connection Café officially opened in June 2021 and was recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization in March 2022.
Since opening, the Connection Café has grown from having one certified recovery coach to now having five peer recovery coaches. They support and provide the Connection Café’s programming, including diverse support groups (e.g., all pathways to recovery, alternatives to suicide, grief and support, Alcoholics Anonymous, codependency women’s group) occurring 6 days a week and prosocial activities every Friday and Saturday night. Our harm reduction services include syringe access and disposal, HIV/HCV testing, referrals to treatment, peer support, Naloxone distribution and training, and safer sex supplies. The Connection Café also has computers for internet searches, working on resumes, or other computer access needs. Its staff provide services in house, as well as through street outreach.
At the Connection Café, as of September 2022, there has been:
In response to our services growing, we have been able to triple the physical space—again, through tremendous volunteer renovation efforts—to meet the community need. As part of that expansion, the Connection Café opened and dedicated Whitney’s Closet in December 2021 to raise awareness about suicide prevention, while also providing clothing or a hot shower for anyone in need. Additionally, our expansion included a washer and dryer available for member use. We are currently working on installing our new harm reduction vending machine that will allow for 24/7 access to naloxone, condoms, and other supplies. Furthermore, the launch of our End Stigma campaign is imminent.
The Connection Café lives up to its mission and vision every day by accepting everyone, regardless of their chosen pathways to recovery, while also engaging with the community and creating an environment that empowers anyone who walks through its doors. Its existence and success are proof that harm reduction services have a place in traditionally politically conservative areas. To learn more about the Connection Café, please visit www.harmreductioncafe.org
