The Quick Response Team (QRT) at the Monongalia County Department of Health in Morgantown, West Virginia has been awarded a $1 million grant as part of congressional-directed funding. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced the grant, which will be used to support the team’s efforts in improving their services and expanding their reach throughout the county. The funding will also support a three-year study conducted by a full-time data analyst, with the study potentially beginning next month.
QRT Coordinator Brittany Irick expressed her excitement and gratitude for the grant, stating, “To get this through the U.S. Department of Justice is a huge deal to us. We’re excited and really grateful for the opportunity, and I look forward to what we’ll be able to do with this.” Since its establishment four years ago, the QRT has already connected numerous individuals who have experienced opioid overdoses with medical and recovery services. They have also distributed a significant number of free naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversing drug.
Despite previously unsuccessful applications in 2020 and 2021, the QRT applied again in 2023 after incorporating feedback from the Bureau for Justice Assistance. Irick mentioned that the focus of their grant-funded project will be on identifying gaps in their data collection and maximizing the data available from partner agencies and larger organizations. The team aims to improve their services and make data-driven decisions in order to better serve the community.
Once the data analyst completes the study, Irick expects to have a clearer understanding of the team’s impact and areas for improvement. She acknowledged the challenge of assessing their success in reducing overdose fatalities due to a lack of available data. However, she believes that as the team gains more experience and utilizes the data, they can make more informed decisions to combat the opioid addiction crisis.
The QRT was established by the Monongalia County Health Department with a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. They have received recognition for their efforts, including the United States Attorney Award for Outstanding Community Drug Prevention. The team has also collaborated and trained with other QRTs in Michigan and Kentucky.