Connections Community Recovery Program

Uses of Opioid Abatement Settlement Funds include:

• Treatment

• Prevention

• Other Evidence-Based Strategies

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes access to effective behavioral health services so that individuals affected by or at risk for mental health and substance use conditions can receive care, achieve well-being, and thrive.

Evidence-based treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) includes Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) combined with comprehensive whole-person treatment and recovery support services. Whole-person treatment addresses the physical, behavioral, mental health, social, and other factors that can affect an individual’s ability to achieve and maintain recovery.

Connections is committed to meeting applicable federal and State of Louisiana standards and requirements, while responding to the specific needs of local parishes and their communities. Connections provides a community-based outpatient approach designed to expand access to evidence-based OUD treatment, MOUD, recovery support, and whole-person services.

The use of opioid abatement funds through Connections provides a practical and measurable way for local parishes to put settlement dollars to work. These funds can directly support residents affected by opioid use, reduce barriers to treatment, increase access to recovery services, and help reduce the long-term impact of the opioid crisis on individuals, families, and communities.

At Connections Community Recovery Program, we believe that every person deserves the opportunity to recover, rebuild, and reconnect—regardless of where their journey has taken them. Recovery is not simply about overcoming addiction; it is about restoring hope, strengthening families, and creating pathways to healthy, productive lives.

Our mission is to provide compassionate, evidence-based outpatient treatment for individuals living with opioid use disorder and other substance use disorders while addressing the whole person. We recognize that successful recovery requires more than medication and counseling. It requires access to healthcare, mental health services, stable housing, employment opportunities, peer support, and meaningful community connections.

We are committed to reducing the stigma surrounding addiction by treating substance use disorder as the chronic, treatable medical condition that it is. Every individual who walks through our doors is treated with dignity, respect, and the belief that recovery is possible.

Connections Community Recovery Program is built on collaboration. We work alongside healthcare providers, behavioral health professionals, community organizations, faith-based partners, employers, and local governments to create a coordinated system of care that supports long-term recovery and wellness.

As our communities continue to address the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic, we remain dedicated to expanding access to high-quality treatment, preventing overdose deaths, and helping individuals reclaim their lives. Every recovery story strengthens families, improves public health, and builds safer, healthier communities.

Together, we can replace despair with hope, isolation with connection, and addiction with recovery.

Connections Community Recovery Program provides comprehensive, evidence-based treatment for adults with opioid use disorder through medication-assisted treatment, behavioral health services, recovery support, and community partnerships that promote long-term recovery and healthier communities.

The Need

Louisiana continues to experience one of the nation’s highest rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. Every untreated individual impacts:

• Families

• Emergency Medical Services

• Hospitals

• Law Enforcement

• Courts • Employers

• Child Welfare Systems

• Parish Resources

Expanding access to treatment is one of the most effective strategies for reducing overdose deaths and improving community health.

Services Provided

Connections offers comprehensive outpatient opioid treatment, including:

✔ Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (FDA-approved medications)

✔ Medical evaluations and ongoing medication management

✔ Individual counseling

✔ Group counseling

✔ Family counseling

✔ Peer Recovery Support Services

✔ Care Coordination and Case Management

✔ Mental Health Assessment and Referral

✔ Trauma-Informed Care

✔ Recovery Planning

✔ Overdose Prevention Education

✔ Naloxone Distribution

✔ Employment, Education, and Housing Assistance

✔ Community Resource Navigation

Whole-Person Recovery Model • Recovery extends beyond medication. Connections partners with:

• Primary Care Providers

• Hospitals

• Behavioral Health Providers

• Federally Qualified Health Centers

• Mental Health Providers

• Workforce Development Programs

• Housing Organizations

• Recovery Community Organizations

• Veterans Services

• Criminal Justice Agencies

• Child and Family Services

• Faith and Community Organizations

Our goal is to help patients achieve lasting recovery while rebuilding healthy, productive lives.

Proposed Use of Opioid Settlement Funds

Funding will allow Connections to:

• Expand treatment capacity

• Reduce waiting lists

• Increase counseling services

• Hire Peer Recovery Specialists

• Expand overdose prevention initiatives

• Increase outreach to underserved populations

• Improve care coordination

• Develop stronger community partnerships

• Improve treatment retention and recovery outcomes

Expected Community Outcomes

• Funding will help achieve measurable improvements, including:

• Increased access to evidence-based treatment

• Reduced overdose deaths

• Increased treatment retention

• Reduced emergency department utilization

• Reduced criminal justice involvement

• Increased employment among patients

• Increased housing stability

• Improved family reunification

• Increased naloxone distribution

• Improved quality of life for individuals and families

Accountability

• Connections is committed to transparency and measurable outcomes.

• Regular reports can include:

• Parish residents served

• New admissions

• Treatment retention rates

• Counseling participation

• Peer recovery engagement

• Naloxone kits distributed

• Community referrals completed

• Recovery success indicators

• Outcome measures requested by the parish

Why Invest in Connections?

Every dollar invested in treatment helps reduce the costs associated with untreated opioid addiction, including emergency medical care, hospitalizations, incarceration, child welfare involvement, and lost workforce productivity.

By investing opioid settlement funds in evidence-based outpatient treatment, your parish can directly support overdose prevention, expand access to care, and strengthen recovery resources for residents while ensuring settlement dollars are used for their intended public health purpose.

Partnering with Louisiana Parishes to Turn Opioid Settlement Funds into Lasting Community Recovery