The Delaware Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission (POSDC) is an established committee of the Behavioral Health Consortium (BHC), consisting of an independent, collaborative group of&nbsp;Delaware&nbsp;leaders, policymakers, and public advocates.
The POSDC is charged with:
<ul>
<li>Providing funding recommendations to the BHC that can remediate and abate Delaware&rsquo;s opioid crisis.</li>
<li>Offering grant awards for evidence-based efforts that treat, prevent, and reduce opioid use disorder and the misuse of opioids.</li>
<li>Supporting efforts that implement effective treatment interventions, recovery support, and prevention services.</li>
</ul>

The Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission

Cared for community members with medical complexity, including wound care and amputee support. 

Activated telehealth linkages for behavioral health.

Established reimbursement for therapy and counseling.

Increased capacity for substance use disorder treatment centers.

Implemented mental health first-aid training.

Supported evidence-based outpatient services for behavioral health. 

Ensured all students have access to state-supported mental health services. 

Explored options for adolescent-exclusive detox. 

Ensured behavioral health support for people with disabilities. 

Examined and studied harm-reduction measures, including safe consumption sites.

Evaluated opportunities to ensure treatment information is available through cellphone, hotline, or other technology, to give families and consumers quicker access to care.

Piloted fentanyl-xylazine dual testing strip for preventing overdoses.

Continue to assess, advocate for, and collaborate on adequate behavioral health system treatment resources.

Raise awareness of the growing threat of xylazine — and support medical care for those impacted by xylazine.

Ensuring adequate behavioral health resources, capacity, and high-quality treatment is a top priority for this committee. An expansion of individuals&rsquo; access to treatment resources is a critical need that must be addressed.

Access and Treatment

Assessed current outreach efforts and recommend ways to track gaps in information outreach. Helped to inform the development of a tracking approach for outreach and awareness. 

Increased awareness and training on the legislative process for advocates and providers. 

Established continuing education units (CEU) credit for the cultural humility learning requirement across disciplines.

Educated public officials and community leaders on the stigma associated with behavioral health, to better influence policymaking.

Cultivated relationships with the business community, encouraging employment for individuals. Evaluated workplace hiring policies regarding the need to disclose behavioral health history. 

Offered basic behavioral health training to professional groups across the state. 

Offered behavioral health training to construction and food services industries.

Built relationships with Delaware institutions of higher education to discuss ways to support the collegiate recovery community and the behavioral health needs of students.

Assessed the level of engagement of individuals with lived experience in BHC efforts.

Support collegiate recovery communities across universities and colleges, and support the behavioral health community on college campuses.

Ensure that youth and people with lived experiences are represented on BHC committees.

Support and advertise community stigma-intervention work.

This committee works to change perceptions and eliminate stigma related to behavioral health and mental health issues, both of which can become barriers to seeking treatment.

Changing Perceptions and Stigma

Embedded law enforcement drug-diversion programs in several state agencies throughout Delaware.

Assessed the current availability of behavioral and mental health wraparound services for those leaving incarceration, to identify assets and gaps.

Achieved approval of Medicaid suspension rather than loss for those incarcerated, with Medicaid reinstatement upon release. 

Promoted and achieved the expansion of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) within the Department of Corrections (DOC).

Promoted Mental Health Association peer support specialists in three DOC facilities.

Examined the drug diversion program and the sentencing for individuals with behavioral health diagnoses, to explore treatment versus prison time. Several programs within law enforcement are underway, enabling behavioral health workers to join law enforcement teams.

Supported crisis intervention training and other community interventions so that first responders can effectively respond to and support those experiencing a mental health crisis — promoting safety and appropriate referrals.

Examined crisis response initiatives and advocated for a more inclusive system to address individuals who are in crisis and in need of specialty supports.

Standardized post-prison discharge treatment and wraparound services as a bridge to society, including transitional housing.

Supported Executive Order 27 (Governor) and established the Delaware Correctional Reentry Commission.

Employ a data-driven approach to improve outcomes on CLE-related areas.

Employ a crisis intervention team (CIT), a psychological distress profile (PDP), and other resources that enable an effective response to individuals with behavioral health needs.

Establish access to behavioral health services for incarcerated individuals, as well as a connection to services during their transition after incarceration.

This committee produces recommendations and collaborates with stakeholders to promote an effective and sustainable corrections and law enforcement (CLE) system that meets the needs of individuals experiencing behavioral health issues.

Corrections and Law Enforcement

Formed the HB 220 Addiction Action Committee, formerly the Prescription Drug Advisory Committee. Bill Detail &mdash; <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail/25944">Delaware General Assembly</a>

Established the HS 1 for HB 440 Overdose System of Care. Delaware was the first in the nation to do this. Assigned under the BHC Access and Treatment Committee. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=26746&amp;legislationTypeId=6&amp;docTypeId=2&amp;legislationName=HS1">Bill Detail &mdash; Delaware General Assembly</a>

Enacted the SB 230 Mental Health Parity Act. Worked closely with Patrick Kennedy and the Kennedy Forum to accomplish this. Requires annual reporting by insurance carriers on coverage for serious mental illness and drug and alcohol dependencies. Assigned under the BHC Access and Treatment Committee. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=26758&amp;legislationTypeId=1&amp;docTypeId=2&amp;legislationName=SB230">Bill Detail &mdash; Delaware General Assembly</a>

Enacted the HB 368 Green Alert Program. An alert system for at-risk active-duty military personnel or veterans who have gone missing, similar to the Gold Alert. Assigned under the BHC Education and Prevention Committee. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=26483">Legislation Document (delaware.gov)</a>

Established the HB 74 Take Care Delaware program, a partnership between law enforcement and schools to adopt a trauma-informed approach for children who have experienced a traumatic event, and to act in concert with police and schools. The bill allows an exception to existing law to share student information with the school. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=47503&amp;legislationTypeId=1&amp;docTypeId=2&amp;legislationName=HB74">Bill Detail &mdash; Delaware General Assembly</a>

Supported the SB 34 Opioid Impact Fee, paid by pharmaceutical manufacturers. The BHC actively supported the development of the Opioid Impact Fund (OIF) and the Settlement Fund and is responsible for its functioning. The OIF will ensure that settlement money is used to remediate and abate the opioid crisis so that the funds are not diverted to other purposes. As part of the BHC, the OIF ensures that decisions on how to spend funds are reached through consensus processes that consider the views and experience of affected communities. The BHC will distribute money received by the Settlement Fund and the Prescription Opioid Impact Fund (Impact Fund), enacted by Senate Bill No. 34 of the 150th General Assembly, according to the recommendations of the commission. The commission will continue to engage the public and relevant stakeholders for guidance on disbursement for greatest impact. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=47187&amp;legislationTypeId=1&amp;docTypeId=2&amp;legislationName=SB34#:~:text=(1)%20The%20impact%20fee%20is,and%20reported%20in%20the%20PMP.">Legislation Document (delaware.gov)</a>

Enacted HB 372 Banning Powdered Alcohol. Assigned under BHC Data and Policy Committee. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=26484&amp;legislationTypeId=1&amp;docTypeId=2&amp;legislationName=HB372">Bill Detail &mdash; Delaware General Assembly</a>

Established HS 1 for HB 160 Behavioral Health Crisis Workforce, identifying data sources and linking them to workforce development needs. Law enforcement drug diversion programs were embedded in several agencies throughout the state. <a href="https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/GenerateHtmlDocument?legislationId=140522&amp;legislationTypeId=6&amp;docTypeId=2&amp;legislationName=HS1forHB160">Bill Detail &mdash; Delaware General Assembly</a>

Continue longstanding efforts to guide and support the legislative and data-related work of the BHC Committees.

This committee is responsible for overseeing any legislative action, promoting data-sharing among entities, and serving as a link and information provider to other committees.

Data and Policy

Conducted surveys in industries where substance use is high, to engage and educate industry employers.

Identified and assessed mental health resources for Delaware children and adolescents and looked for alignment among agencies to identify gaps in the state that should be filled.

Recommended potential agency alignment and gaps to address.

Conducted a school survey and a pediatric care survey.

Addressed the substance use disorder concerns of the restaurant and construction industries.

Supported the Addiction Action Committee in the formation of a new group to develop formal education/prevention outreach and messaging on marijuana and today&rsquo;s THC levels.

Promoted the &ldquo;1 Pill Can Kill&rdquo; campaign statewide.

Promoted National Fentanyl Awareness Day, encouraging parents to speak to their children, with the goal of reducing overdoses.

Promoted nonpharmacological treatments for pain management resources to prevent opioid and substance use.

Develop and promote strategies for Delaware schools and pediatricians to coordinate and conduct universal mental health prescreenings and referral processes for youth ages 10 to 13.

Promote and support behavioral health prevention and education campaigns.

Provide education on and advocate for the use of nonpharmacological pain management strategies.

This committee addresses the ongoing need to provide up-to-date information and education about behavioral health to all stakeholders. Ensuring that content is easy to understand and accurate is a priority.

Education and Prevention

Worked on age-related mental health risks and barriers.

Reviewed data and advocated for the alignment of Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) and Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD) recommendations.

Focused on expansion of services for elderly and young patients with dementia and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease.

Supported DSAAPD in developing dementia services.

Developed opportunities and services for families with autism, while supporting collaboration among related agencies to identify services.

Supported development of legislation on psychiatric advance directives &mdash; strategies that protect a person&rsquo;s autonomy to direct their own care while experiencing a mental health crisis.

Continued to enhance access to housing and promoted housing stability.

Engaged housing agencies that serve the behavioral health community from around the state, to understand their services and needs, as well as to offer recommendations to address housing needs.

Develop strategies that protect a person’s autonomy to direct their own care while experiencing a mental health crisis.

Enhance access to housing and promote housing stability for the behavioral health community.

Recognizing that both family units and communities are where support and education are needed most, this committee helps to eliminate stigma and promote quality services on the homefront.

We Are Delaware’s Behavioral Health Catalyst

Established in 2017

Monthly Meetings

Committees

The Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission

Committee
Access and Treatment

Committee
Changing Perceptions and Stigma

Committee
Corrections and Law Enforcement

Committee
Data and Policy

Committee
Education and Prevention

Committee
Family and Community Readiness

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, PhD, RN

Learn About Our Efforts to Address the Opioid Crisis

Join our Mailing List

We Are Delaware’s Behavioral Health Catalyst

Established in 2017

Monthly Meetings

Committees

The Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Commission

CommitteeAccess and Treatment

CommitteeChanging Perceptions and Stigma

CommitteeCorrections and Law Enforcement

CommitteeData and Policy

CommitteeEducation and Prevention

CommitteeFamily and Community Readiness

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, PhD, RN

Learn About Our Efforts to Address the Opioid Crisis

Join our Mailing List

Committee
Access and Treatment

Committee
Changing Perceptions and Stigma

Committee
Corrections and Law Enforcement

Committee
Data and Policy

Committee
Education and Prevention

Committee
Family and Community Readiness