This National Association of Counties report notes that Appalachian counties have experienced an opioid overdose death rate that is 72 percent higher than in non-Appalachian counties. The report presents case studies showing how local leadership has addressed the opioid crisis by being strategic in action, supporting preventive and educational efforts, and expanding access to addiction treatments. Other strategies include initiating a criminal justice response to illegal opioid sales, providing services to those involved with the criminal justice system who experience opioid use disorders, and reducing local economic impacts.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin at Madison provides concrete data on how the opioid crisis has grown in Wisconsin. Identification of the rising number of opioid-related deaths, geography of opioid-related deaths (for urban and rural communities), and the increased number of opioid-related ER visits are presented in reader-friendly graphics.

This Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) issue brief is drawn from a jointly funded initiative from the ARC and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: Disparities and Bright Spots.” The brief presents statistics on opioid abuse and deaths in Appalachia, discusses strategies and resources for addressing the opioid crisis in this location, and offers recommendations for further study and program implementation of community-based solutions.

The Administration for Children and Families developed the Prevention Services Clearinghouse to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2018 funded under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act. The Clearinghouse evaluates programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements. The Clearinghouse rates programs and services in the areas of mental health prevention and treatment options, substance abuse prevention and treatment services, in-home parenting programs, and kinship navigator programs. Their Handbook of Standards and Procedures describes the standards used to identify and review the programs and services, as well as the procedures followed by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse staff.

This Corporation for Supportive Housing policy brief is the first in a series, offering guidance on how to build and enhance collaboration between affordable housing and substance abuse treatment providers. The brief is in response to the SUPPORT Act of 2018 (Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities) which created additional opportunities for treatment services expansion, overdose prevention, and training for addiction treatment counselors.

This report from the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) describes major welfare and family self-sufficiency research that OPRE’s Division of Economic Independence sponsored in Fiscal Year 2018. The five areas of research explored by OPRE projects are: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, employment and the labor market, education and training, behavioral science, and cross-cutting and other safety net research. The report provides project summaries and highlights key findings.

This National Conference of State Legislatures blogpost identifies state initiatives and model programs that support early education and child care. Highlighted are initiatives on parental leave programs; home visiting; improving infant and toddler child care supply and quality; well-being and developmental physical and mental health screenings for 9-, 18-, and 30-month-olds; and child care funding and early education subsidies.

This Mathematica literature review features the causal relationship between employment and health among low-income Americans. Instead of cause and effect, research has mostly emphasized the correlational relationship of changes in employment and health; this prior work mainly reflected findings from outside the United States. The research in this current review assessed whether a causal relationship exists between work environment and health, since a job’s nature and quality might affect one’s health. The review’s findings might help guide the design of programs to improve health or employment outcomes for U.S. low-income adults and children.

The National Association of Counties will host a three-part webinar series to discuss strategies county leaders can use to create comprehensive reentry substance abuse treatment plans with law enforcement officials for individuals in jails and upon reentry. The first webinar will be held on April 25, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET.

This report from the Food Research and Action Center presents an analysis of the long-term health impacts from food insecurity among children, adults, and older adults. The report summarizes the chronic diseases, mental health concerns, and other health-related conditions (such as cost-related medication underuse) associated with food insecurity that each of these populations encounter.