About the Program
Established in 2021, the Overdose Response Team (ORT) is a post-overdose follow-up program that allows a recovery support peer specialist to visit a person who has experienced an overdose in the last 24-72 hours. ORT provides support, education, and access to evidence-based treatment such as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and other life-saving resources.
People who have experienced an overdose are far more likely to experience another. Intervention efforts such as our ORT program provide individuals with information and resources to improve their health and safety. The program creates relationships with people who are at risk of experiencing an overdose and offers a variety of wraparound health and social services.
The ORT follows the lead of the individual to guide the frequency, type, and amount of follow-up services provided by the Recovery Support Peer Specialist. Utilizing both in-person and virtual service delivery, we ensure participants have access to all of the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.
Services
- Education on harm reduction, overdose prevention, treatment, and recovery options
- Referrals to mental health, substance use treatment, and recovery services
- Individual and group recovery coaching
- Transportation assistance for treatment
- Narcan distribution and training
- CPR training
- Assistance/support for the entire family
Our Values
- Meeting people where they’re at
- Offering dignity, respect and compassion
Valuing human life - Building connection and relationships
- Respecting everyone’s self-determination
- Committing to evidence-based practices
- Empowering individuals to take control of their own health and wellness
- Providing non-judgmental, noncoercive care
- Improving quality of life, not necessarily cessation of use
Our Partners
Leveraging the expertise of both public health and public safety, the ORT was established in 2021 with a mission to identify and serve people who have recently experienced an overdose. Collaborating with local emergency medical service (EMS) providers, we’ve successfully launched programs in Dallas, Denton, Plano, and Tarrant County, and are actively expanding into other areas.
Contact Us
If you are interested in learning more about how our team can help, please call, email, or fill out the referral form below.