The Maryland Office of Overdose Response focuses on 5 priority pillars: Prevention, Treatment, Recovery, Harm Reduction and Public Safety. It is managed by Special Secretary Emily Keller.
The Carroll County Overdose Prevention Policy Group (OPPG) was previously the Senior Opioid Group. The group underwent a name change as well to address more than opioids. The group consist of community members shall include, but is not limited to, individuals with experience in:
a) Health;
(b) Social services;
(c) Education;
(d) Public safety agencies, including law enforcement, fire service, and emergency services;
(e) Harm reduction programs;
(f) Recovery support programs;
(g) Substance use treatment; and
(h) Community and faith-based organizations
The group is chaired by representatives from the Health Department and community organizations. The OPPG must comply with the Open Meetings Act. The agenda must be published publicly 24 hours prior to meeting, and recordings OR notes must also be published after the meeting. Please see meeting information and minutes below.
All block grant applications MUST be discussed with the Overdose Prevention Team (OPT) at large to solicit feedback. OPT chairs should send out an email to all OPT members notifying them during which meeting the block grant will be discussed. In order to receive funding from the Office, counties must host these meetings at least quarterly and report to the Office on an annual basis.
OPTs will remain the entities responsible for allocating block grant funding from the MOOR office.
The OPPG's main purposes are to advocate for a comprehensive behavioral health system for persons of all ages and to meet the identified needs of the general public and the criminal justice system for alcohol and drug evaluation, prevention and treatment services. They also communicate with and educate the community regarding the programs, facilities and policies of available county behavioral health and addictions services.
In Carroll County, our Overdose Prevention Policy Group is merged with the Carroll County Behavioral Health Advisory Council (CCBHAC).
The meetings are hybrid and can be attended in person at the Carroll County Health Department at 290 S. Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157 or virtually via Google Meets.
