FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 29, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Mary Noble announced that a total of $572,478 in grant funding has been awarded from the federal Comprehensive Opioid and Stimulant Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) to the Jeffersontown Police Department and Access to Justice Commission. Funds are received from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.
“COSSAP ensures that individuals negatively impacted by substance abuse have access to crisis intervention, needs assessment, appropriate links to necessary services within their local community and referrals to detox and treatment facilities,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Our state continues to battle an ongoing public health crisis in regards to substance use disorder, and until the war is won we must actively pursue and develop a variety of treatment options for all Kentuckians in need of recovery help. This funding provides our commonwealth with another avenue to accomplish that mission.”
Applications for COSSAP are submitted to and grant funding is administered by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Grants Management Division. Subawards for COSSAP funding are predominately granted to law enforcement agencies, civil legal service providers and non-profit agencies that support the goals and objectives identified in the federal program guidelines.
“COSSAP funding is another step toward creating a Better Kentucky, and the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is honored to support these two organizations in their efforts to improve access to treatment and recovery support services, which are more important today than ever before,” said Secretary Noble. “While progress has been made, much remains to be done to turn the tide of the drug epidemic, save lives and enhance our communities.”
The agencies awarded funding from COSSAP include:
Jeffersontown Police Department
Jeffersontown Police Department has been awarded $246,283 in COSSAP funding to establish a Community Resources Unit through the hiring of a Community Resources Coordinator and a Community Resources Supervisor to support persons suffering from mental health and addiction crises, and to address social service-related needs in the City of Jeffersontown.
This award will provide critical funding to develop an evidence-based and trauma-informed Community Resources Unit for the first time at the Jeffersontown Police Department.
“We are excited to receive the COSSAP grant to hire a Community Resource Coordinator and develop our Community Resource Unit for the first time in the history of our department. As an embedded social services clinician, the Community Resource Coordinator will expand the Jeffersontown Police Angel Program to help persons suffering from drug addiction or overdoses through follow-up and connection to treatment and harm reduction resources. The CRC will also develop a network of local, state, and nationwide resources for addiction, mental health support, housing, and other social service related needs for the Jeffersontown community,” said Jeffersontown Police Department Chief Richard Sanders. “Ultimately, working alongside our sworn officers, the Community Resource Coordinator will help our department provide more effective social service response and support in our community. The COSSAP grant from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet has made this possible.”
Chief Sanders anticipates that the Community Resource Unit will be fully operational within the next 6-8 weeks. In the meantime, any individual in need of assistance may contact the Jeffersontown Police Department at 502-267-0503 or speak directly with an officer in the community.
Access to Justice Commission
Access to Justice Commission has been awarded $326,195 in COSSAP funding to identify individuals in residential treatment for substance use disorder who have unresolved legal issues, and link them with attorneys prior to leaving treatment. Additionally, funding will be used to connect substance involved individuals in a recovery center with community resources and civil legal services.
"This Legal Assistance in Treatment project will enable our Kentucky Access to Justice Commission to integrate an additional service into the continuum of care for individuals recovering from substance use disorder by addressing unresolved legal issues that could impede their recovery. The Kentucky Access to Justice Commission is pleased to partner with the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet on this project, “ said Glenda J. Harrison, Executive Director of the Access to Justice Commission.
COSSAP was developed as part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) legislation.
COSSAP aims to reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities, including a reduction in the number of overdose fatalities, as well as mitigate the impacts on crime victims by supporting comprehensive, collaborative initiatives. This opportunity provides funding to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive programs in response to illicit opioids, stimulants, or other substances of abuse.
For more information on COSSAP, click here.