WE'RE GOING TO GET THE RECORDING STARTED AND PASS THE BALL TO MY COLLEAGUE, KENDRA MORGAN WHO IS
GOING TO BE LEADING NEWS TODAY'S SESSION.
WELCOME, KENDRA.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M SO PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
I WILL ADMIT TO ALMOST FEELING A LITTLE EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH
IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE TOPIC OF HEALTH AS WE FACE THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC, AND THAT YOU ARE
ALL SHOWING UP TODAY TO TALK MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE
OPIOID CRISIS, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR BEING PART OF THIS SESSION.
I'M JOINED BY PATTY MCCARTHY, WHO IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF FACES AND VOICES OF RECOVERY,
AS WELL AS KEVIN KING, THE HEAD OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT THE KALAMAZOO PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND LARRA
CLARK, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND ONE OF THE PARTNERS ON THIS
PROJECT IS GOING KICK US OFF TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT AND SOME OF THE CONTENT WE'RE
GOING TO BE COVERING TODAY.
WELCOME, LARRA.
>> LARRA, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE STILL MUTED.
>> THERE WE GO.
THANKS, JENNIFER.
WELCOME, EVERYONE.
IT IS GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU LIVE FROM MY LIVING ROOM AS I SUPPOSE WE ALL ARE THESE DAYS.
AND THANKS KENDRA.
WE ARE FINDING OURSELVES RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUT BREAK REPRESENTING A NEW AND
CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US, BUT WE THINK THAT AS WE GO THROUGH TODAY'S SESSION YOU WILL
SEE SOME ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE OPIOID CRISIS THAT IS THE FOCUS OF OUR PROGRAM TODAY AND THE
CORONAVIRUS, AND PERHAPS FIND SOME IDEAS THAT WILL CARRY FORWARD AS WE ALL SEEK TO INFORM OUR
COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE BUILDINGS OPEN TO ALL, INCLUDING THOSE WHO MAY NOBODY CRISIS AND
LOOKING FOR A SAFE SPACE, AT LEAST UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, LIBRARY STAFF ARE FINDING THEMSELVES
ON THE FRONT LINE OF THE OPIOID CRISIS.
LIBRARY RESPONSES TO THIS INCLUDE INCLUDED PROVIDING INFORMATION ON PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND
RECOVERY SUPPORT AND TRAINING STAFF ON THE FACTS AND HOW TO USE NALOXONE TO AVOIDED OPIOID
OVERDOSES.
WE'RE RESPONDING IN A VARY OF WAYS, FROM SUPPORTING RECOVERY GROUPS TO AUTHOR TALKS TO PUBLIC
AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS.
BEYOND THESE SPECIFICS, THOUGH, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT LIBRARIES SUPPORT THE PUBLIC IN
ADDRESSING HEALTH-RELATED TOPICS IN SO MANY WAYS, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE, CERTAINLY PART OF THE
CONVERSATION NOW AS WE'RE FACED WITH THE REALITIES OF THE PANDEMIC.
I HAVE TOO MUCH GOING ON ON MY SCREEN.
SORRY TO BE A LITTLE BIT JUMPY HERE.
AS WE LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF LIBRARIES SUPPORTING COMMUNITY HEALTH CHALLENGES, THIS QUOTE IS
FROM A REPORT ON THE HEALTHY LIBRARY INITIATIVE, A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA AND THE PRE-LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA.
THE LIBRARY OFFERS MAYBE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE CON COMMUNITY, CONNECTED TO HELP THERE ARE
TWO PARTICULAR STRENGTHS THAT LIBRARIES CONTRIBUTE TO ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.
ACCESSIBILITY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS.
THESE TWO ASSETS ARE IMPORTANT KEEP IN MIND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS SESSION.
THINK ABOUT PEOPLE FACING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND THIS COULD BE
THEMSELVES OR THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY THIS INSTITUTION IS SEEN AS ACCESSIBLE AND TRUSTWORTHY AND
THIS PRESENT AS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR LIBRARIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
TODAY'S WEBINAR IS PART OF THE RESEARCH PROCESS, PUBLIC LIBRARIES RESPOND TO THE OPIOID CRISIS WITH
THEIR COMMUNITIES FUNDED WHICH THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES.
WE'VE CONNECTED WITH LIBRARIES AND BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS INTERESTED IN PARTNERING
WITH LIBRARIES.
WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANT CONNECTION TO THIS WORK TO THE OVERALL RESPONSES TO THE SUBSTANCE
USE DISORDER AND OVER ALL MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.
THIS WEBINAR IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SHARE SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM THE RESEARCH AND TALK
ABOUT THE RECENTLY-PUBLISHED DUAL ACTION REPORT THAT EXPLORED WAYS THAT LIBRARIES CAN RESPOND TO
THE OPIOID CRISIS.
THE CALL TO ACTION.
>>  Reporter: IS THE CULMINATION OF THIS GRANT-FUND PRODUCT JECT AND IT HIGHLIGHTS WAYS TO ENGAGE
THIS TOP WICK DISCUSSIONS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, NON-PROFIT, LIBRARY
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
WE COULD BE DUCTED A TOTAL OF EIGHT CASE STUDIES IN LIBRARIES ACROSS THE U.S. WHICH REPRESENTED A
RANGE OF RESPONSES.
THIS IS A FREELY AVAILABLE REPORT YOU CAN ACCESS ALONG WITH THE CASE STUDIES AND SUPPORT ON
RESEARCH.
YOU CAN ACCESS EVERYTHING BUT FOLLOWING THE FRIENDLY URL HERE AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING IT TO THE CHAT
SO, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO KENDRA TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS IN THE CALL TO
ACTION SO HANDING THE BATON BACK.
>> GREAT, THANKS, LARRA.
SO THIS IS THE CALL TO ACTION OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS AND LAYS OUT STIPES THAT LIBRARY STAFF CAN
TAKE, NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS CRISIS, BUT ALSO TO HELP STAFF AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS LEARN THE FACTS ABOUT THE CRISIS AND FIND A ROLE FOR THE LIBRARY TO PLAY IN ADDRESSING
THIS IMPORTANT HEALTH CARE ISSUE.
WE HOPE WHAT YOU HEAR TODAY WILL HELP INSPIRE TO YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE CALL TO ACTION PAPER, AND
ALSO SEEK WAYS FOR YOUR LIBRARY TO RESPOND.
WE FIVE STEPS IN THE PROCESS, AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WALKING THROUGH THEM
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THE STEP BEING SURFACED FOR US AS WE WERE DOING THE RESEARCH FOR THIS
PROJECT.
AS WELL AS HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THEM IN YOUR LIBRARIES AND PART OF YOUR STAFF
DISCUSSIONS AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY EFFORTS.
FOR THE FIRST STEP IS, LOOKING INTO EXPLORING COMMUNITY HEALTH DATA, THAN IS HELPING TO YOU
UNDERSTAND NOT JUST THE IMPACT OF THE OPIOID CRISIS BUT OTHER HEALTH-RELATED COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
WE USE DATA FOR THIS PROJECT FROM BOTH THE COUNTY HEALTH RANKINGS AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL TO INFORM THE RESEARCH FOR THE PROJECT.
PART OF THE REASON WE NEEDED TO DO THAT WAS WE WANTED TO LOOK AT PLACES THAT WERE HAVING VERY
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES WITH THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, SO NOT JUST COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HARD-HIT AND
PROBABLY WELL AWARE OF THE IMPACT OF OVERDOSES OR OPIOID MISUSE, BUT ALSO AT THOSE COMMUNITIES
WHERE THINGS MAY NOT BE AS DIRE, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE STILL SEVERE, RIGHT?
PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM OPIOID MISUSE, THEIR FRIENDS, THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE DEALING WITH AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, IT HAS A LOT OF IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS SO
EVEN IF THE NUMBERS ARE NOT HIGH, THERE CAN STILL AND LOT OF INDIVIDUAL SUFFERING AND AS WE WALK
THROUGH THESE EXAMPLES, YOU WILL SEE THAT THESE SUGGESTIONS MAY RESONATE ACROSS PUBLIC HEALTH
CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY ON DIFFERENT LEVELS SO IT COULD BE RELATED TO DIABETES OR HEART DISEASE
OH, PIECITY, BUT YOU CAN USE THIS APPROACH TO ADDRESS MORE THAN JUST THE OPIOID CRISIS.
SO ANOTHER ASPECT OF EXPLORING DATA IS CONNECTING WITH LOCAL AND/OR STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, THEY
HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND ISSUES THAT THEY MAY BE FOCUSING ON THAT CAN BE
REALLY HELPFUL TO DIG INTO, SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO MAKE THAT CORN ANNEX, AS WELL.
-- CONNECTION, AS WELL.
THE NEXT STEP IS CONSIDERING YOUR ASSETS, AND THE SECOND PIECE IS ABOUT CONNECTING WITH PARTNERS,
CONSIDERING COMMUNITY ASSETS, AND SEEKING A SEAT AT THE TABLE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL HERE KEVIN
KING FROM THE KALAMAZOO PUBLIC LIBRARY SPEAK ABOUT IN A BIT.
KEVIN WAS REALLY ACTIVE IN SEEKING OUT WAYS TO SEEK OUT NOT ONLY HOW THE LIBRARY COULD HELP BUT
SEEKING INFORMATION TO HELP INFORM DECISIONS AT THE LIBRARIES.
ONE OF THE RESOURCES YOU CAN CONSIDER IF YOU WANT TO DIG INTO A BIT OF A COMMUNITY ANALYSIS IS THE
COMMUNITY-LED LIBRARIES TOOLKIT, WHICH WAS PRODUCED IN CANADA, AND THIS PLAYS OUT AN APPROACH FOR
MAPPING OUT THE TYPES OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FINDING ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY PROVIDE EXAMPLES ON HOW YOU SHOULD DO IT IN THE TOOLKIT OR HOW YOU CAN DO IT, IN
TERMS OF REACHING OUT, SETTING UP MEETINGS, EXPLORING WEBS AND REALLY MAPPING OUT THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED IN YOUR COMMUNITY FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO, AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERING, OF CONNECTING WITH PARTNERS IS REALLY BEING ABLE
TO TELL THE LIBRARY STORY, AND THIS ISN'T ALWAYS A PLACE WHERE WE HE CAN SELL BUT I REALLY DO --
EXCEL BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE BOLD AND CLEAR AND PROUD OF THE WORK LIBRARIES CAN DO.
WE HELD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH CROSS SECOND ORGANIZATIONS LAST FALL ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD OVER AND OVER WAS, I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT LIBRARIES AS PARTNERS BUT IT
MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND I GET IT SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN EMPHASIZE IS HOW LIBRARIES ARE
TRUSTED ORGANIZATIONS AND THE REACH THAT YOU HAVE, THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE ON BOARD WHO ARE BOTH
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PASSIONATE, AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE, IN THE CHAT, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CHAT
SET TO ALL PARTICIPANTS, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT WHEN IT
COMES TO THE STRENGTH OF YOUR L LIBRARY.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST STRENGTH YOU WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH PARTNERS AND MAKE SURE YOUR
CHAT IS SET TO "ALL PARTICIPANTS" AND JUST PUT IT IN THERE, WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE
WITH PEOPLE AS YOU SHARED THE RESOURCES THAT THE LIBRARY HAS, THE STRENGTH
STRENGTHS OF YOUR STAFF.
KEVIN TYPED IN BEING A NON-STIGMATIZED FACE, WHICH IS GREAT.
WELCOMING TO ALL.
RIGHT THAT WE ARE PUBLIC BUILDINGS WHERE ANYONE CAN COME IN AND USE OUR SERVICES IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT WE LOOK TO PROVIDE AN INCLUSIVE SPACE, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
BEING THE HUB OF THE COMMUNITY, I LOVE THAT ONE BECAUSE IT IS TRUE, RIGHT, WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS
THAT WE CAN OFFER.
A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXPLORE PRIVATELY OR WITH HELP FROM STAFF, I THINK THAT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT.
THERE CAN BE A LOT OF REASONS WHY THE LIBRARY IS A MUCH SAFER SPACE TO DO RESEARCH OR LOOK
QUESTIONS AND EVEN AT HOME.
PROVIDING A DOWNTOWN CENTRALIZED LOCATION, THAT'S HUGE.
HAVING ACCESS, BEING ACCESS FOR PEOPLE TO REACH.
THESE ARE GREAT, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL SHARING YOUR THINGS AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO YOU BRING
THIS UP AS YOU TALK TO PARTNERS ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP THEM REACH COMMUNITIES.
IN THE RESEARCH WE DID, WE DID CASE STUDIES WITH EIGHT PUBLIC LIBRARIES THAN ALL OF THE CASES, WE
REALLY ARE SHOWING UP AS LIBRARY STAFF AND REPRESENTATIVES OF LIBRARY, YOU'RE ALREADY DOING
FANTASTIC WORK THANK YOU FOR THAT, AS WELL.
THE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT SHOW UP IN THE RESEARCH WE DID THERE WERE EIGHT CASE STUDIES THAT WE
CONDUCTED AROUND THE COUNTRY IN EIGHT DIFFERENT LIBRARIES AND THOSE COMMUNITIES REPRESENT SERVE
COMMUNITIES FROM 16,000 ALL THE WAY UP TO OVER 800,000.
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WERE THE MOST COMMON PARTNER WE SAW WHEN IT CAME TO PARTNERSHIPS AROUND
THE OPIOID CRISIS, BUT WE ALSO SAW PEOPLE PARTNERING WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, FOCUSED ON
PREVENTION, TREATMENT OR RECOVERY SUPPORT AND AT LEAST HALF OF THE LIBRARIES WERE INVOLVED IN SOME
KIND OF COMMUNITY COALITION THAT WAS LOOKING TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND THE OPIOID CRISIS.
HOW THE LIBRARIES WERE INVOLVED IN THE COALITIONS VARIED GREATLY AND INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM
SHOWING UP AT MEETINGS, HOSTING MEETINGS AND BEING ACTIVE MEMBERS IS A HUGE RANGE.
THE NEXT STEP IS STEP THREE, WHICH IS LOOKING TO INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY
ABOUT THE CRISIS, AND ABOUT THE REALITIES OF OPIOID MISUSE, AND INCREASING UNDERSTANDING CAN LEAD
TO REDUCED STIGMA.
A LOT OF US, WE JUST COME WITH OUR OWN BIASES FROM OUR EXPERIENCES AND THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN
EXPOSED TO BUT HELPING TO LEARN THE FACTS AND THE REALITIES OF HOW PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED BY ANY TYPE
OF HEALTH CRISIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BOTH DEVELOPING EMPATHY AND MINIMIZING THE STIGMA.
PERSONAL STORIES CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL AND SO CAN DATA AND STATISTICS THAT WE COLLECTED IN THE
FIRST PHASE.
SO LEARNING AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIBRARY STAPH AND THE BOARD, AS WELL AS THE LARGER
COMMUNITY CAN REALLY HELP TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND CONFIDENCE IN ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS.
WE OFFERED A WEBINAR IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, FEATURED A MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID PROGRAM, WHICH IS
REALLY AN IMPRESSIVE TRAINING THAT IS AVAILABLE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO LOOK INTO IT I POSTED
THE LINK INTO THE CHAT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OFFERED IN LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
IT IS A FACE-TO-FACE COURSE SO I IMAGINE THAT THEY'VE PUT THINGS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW BUT I KNOW THAT
THEY'RE WORKING TO DEVELOP AN ONLINE VERSION, AS WELL, AND I REALLY THOUGHT AS A PROGRAM THAT COULD
HELP ALL OF US NOT JUST IN OUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES BUT OUR PERSONAL LIVES, AS WELL.
WAS SO MANY THINGS CONNECTED TO HEALTH INFORMATION, UNDERSTANDING THE FACTS IS A REALLY CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF BEING ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGE AND ADDRESS ON THESE ISSUES.
IF WE TAKE SOMETHING LIKE SAFELY DISPOSING OF MEDICATIONS, THROUGH A DIRECT TAKE BACK PROGRAM, FOR
EXAMPLE, AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT ON KEEPING MEDICATIONS FROM BEING
ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY MISUSE THEM AND THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE OF BLAME OR FAULT BUT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP LIMIT RISK AND IT IS EASY TO DO THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF FLAYERS
AND SIGNAGE, BUT UNDERSTANDING HOW PEOPLE MIGHT BE IMPACTED OR BE GETTING ACCESS TO MID INDICATIONS
AND MISUSING THEM HELPS US TO TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS IN CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR 
EVERYONE.
THE NEXT STEP IS REALLY FOCUSING ON STAFF CARE, AND THIS, A BIG PART OF THIS FOR US IS
ACKNOWLEDGING THE PRESENCE OF COMPASSION FATIGUE AND THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF VET IDENTIFIES
COMPASSION FATIGUE AS THE EMOTIONAL RESIDUE OR EXPOSURE TO WORKING WITH THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE
CONSEQUENCES OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS IT DIFFERS FROM BURN OUTBUT CAN CO-EXIST.
SO, COMPASSION FATIGUE IS AN ISSUE FOR LIBRARY STAFF THAT SURFACES AROUND OTHER TOPICS, AS WELL.
FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE GREAT RECESSION, LIBRARY STAFF EXPERIENCED COMPASSION FATIGUE FROM HELPING
PEOPLE LOCATE INFORMATION RELATED TO FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, HOUSING OPTIONS
AND JOB SEEKING.
IT WAS OFTEN TOUGH WORK THAT WENT ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND LIBRARY STAFF DEFINITELY FELT THE
EFFECTS.
AND THIS FEELS VERY REAL TO US NOW AS WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
AND I THINK THERE IS STRESS WANTING TO HELP PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES BUT NEEDING TO ADD HERE
THOUGH CLOSURE ORDERS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS KNOWING THE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING
YOUR LIBRARY PROVIDES CAN BE A LIFE LINE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED SOCIAL CONNECTION EITHER IN PERSON
OR THROUGH YOUR PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTERS, THEY DEPEND ON LIBRARIES SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
I KNOW HOW MUCH PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH AS WE'VE HAD TO LIMIT SERVICES AND CHANGE THINGS.
THIS IS TRUE AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THIS DIFFERENTLY AND
DIFFERENT RESPONSES, SO FOCUSING ON THE EXPERIENCE STAFF MAY HAVE WHEN ADDRESSING THE OPIOID CRISIS
IS IMPORTANT, AND I THINK SO A KEY THING THAT WE CAN DO AROUND ANY KIND OF STRESS MUCH SITUATION IS
TO REALLY LOOK AT A POST-CRISIS PLAN FOR DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC EVENTS, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
SPECIFIC.
WE KNOW THAT LIBRARIES HAVE DONE THAT WITH REGARDS TO OPIOID OVERDOSES ON THE GROUNDS AND SETTING
UP COUNSELING OR ONE-ON-ONE DISCUSSIONS AND DE-BRIEFING WITH FOLKS, BUT THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF
ANYTHING THAT'S TRAUMATIC WHO SHOULD BE THE LEAD CONTACT, WHO CAN HE REACH OUT TO FOR SUPPORT BUT
THEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OR THE STATE.
CHECK ON EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, IF YOUR INSURANCE, IF YOU RECEIVE YOUR INSURANCE THROUGH
YOUR LIBRARY THAT MIGHT BE ANOTHER ACCESS POINT FOR RECEIVING CARE SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO
LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT A PLAN TO HELP US BOTH IN THE PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY AND RESPOND.
AND THEN THE FINAL STEP THAT'S AROUND CREATING ENGAGEMENT  IN PROGRAMMING, SO THE RESOURCES AND
PROGRAMMING THE LIBRARY MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER IN CONNECTION FOR OPEN RIDE MISUSE.
THESE ARE A FEW OF THE EXAMPLES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CAPTURE THE POSSIBILITIES AND RESEARCH,
THERE IS NO ONE SIDE FITS ALL SOLUTION TO APPROACHING PROGRAMMING ON THIS ISSUE.
YOUR COMMUNITIES ARE ALL DIFFERENT, WE MADE SURE TO TALK TO LIBRARIES WE'RE DOING A RANGE OF THINGS
SO WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT, THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE AND MEETING
YOUR STAFF WHERE THEY ARE.
SO SOMETHING AS COMMON AS INFORMATIONAL DISPLAYS WITH BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS, PROMOTING DRUG TAKE-BACK
EVENTS, DISTRIBUTING FREE PAMPHLETS, DISTRIBUTING MILLION TO OBJECTION OWN, ARE JUST SOME OF THE --
DISTRIBUTING IN A NALONE IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO.
THE RESEARCH, THE FIRST IS IN SALT LAKE COUNTY AND THIS IS THE CHECK OUT DESK AT ONE OF THEIR
BRANCHES AND IT HAS A WRAP AROUND AS PART OF THE USE ONLY AS DIRECTED CAMPAIGN AND THE WHOLE
CAMPAIGN IS GEARED AROUND HELPING SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR CARE
PROVIDERS AROUND USING ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS.
THIS IS THE TIME THAT WHICH TALK SERIES FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE IN RHODE ISLAND.
THEY HAVE MOVIE SCREENINGS AND BOOK DISCUSSIONS ALL AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING SKILLS AND
BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS STRESS AND THEY REALLY LOOKED AT WAYS TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THINGS
THAT MIGHT IMPACT SUBSTANCE MISUSE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THIS IS FROM THE TWINSBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY IN OHIO, THROUGH THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ARE MAKING
DETERRA DRUG DEACTIVATION BAGS AVAILABLE.
THEY CAN TAKE A BAG, PUT ANY UNUSED PRESCRIPTION INTO A BAG, FILL WITH WATER AND IT RENDER IT IS
UNUSABLE.
IT IS A GREAT WAY TO TAKE THE DRUGS OUT OF THE HOME THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED, PARTICULARLY IF
THERE AREN'T ANY DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAMS BUT I DO ENCOURAGE TO YOU CHECK WITH LOCAL PHARMACIES AND
POLICE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THEY DO A LOT OF THAT REGULARLY.
I WANTED TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME TALKING ABOUT NALOXONE BECAUSE IT IS COMMON IN LIBRARIES AND WE
WANTED TO SHARE A FEW THINGS.
THE FIRST PIECE OF RESEARCH THAT STATES THAT HAVE PROVIDED ACCESS TO NALOXONE HAVE SEEN A 14%
REDUCTION IN OVER TOES RATES ANNA LOX OWN IS A MEDICATION THAT CAN RE-- AND NALOXONE IS A
MEDICATION THAT CAN REVERSE AN OVERDOSE,ED A IBM OFFICERED THROUGH A NEEDLE OR NASAL SPRAY.
AND IT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO NALOXONE, OR I SAY, ACCESS TO NALOXONE DOES NOT INCREASE
NON-MEDICAL USE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT MORE LIKELY TO INCREASE ABUSE OF OPIOIDS BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF NALOXONE TO
PREVENT OVERDOSE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
IF YOUR LIBRARY IS INTERESTED IN RECEIVING NALOXONE, NARCAN IS AVAILABLE, THE NAME BRAND
FOR NALOXONE IS AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE AMAKING TWO DOSES FREELY AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC LIBRARIES THIS
PROGRAM IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO HIGH SCHOOLS, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND YMCAs AND WE WILL
POST A FLING CHAT TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROGRAM.
ESTREAT I'M GOING TO TURN OVER NOW TO PATTY MCCARTHY, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF FACES AND VOICES OF
RECOVERY.
THE ACTION REPORT, REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WITH LIVED SPENCERS TO HELP BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT
OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANTED TO INVITE PATTY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HER ORGANIZATION AND HOW THIS CAN HELP IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, PATTY.
PATTY, YOU WILL JUST WANT TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE.
>> HI, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH US ALL AND THE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT I'VE HEARD
DURING THIS WEBINAR.
AS A PERSON IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY MYSELF, I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BE THE EXECUTIVE, THE CEO OF
FACES AND VOICES OF RECOVERY.
SO JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN RECOVERY IN YOUR LOCAL EFFORTS AND WHAT
WE DO ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR MISSION, WHAT WE DO IS WE MOBILIZE AND WE ORGANIZE TO RAISE THE PROFILE
OF THE RECOVERY COMMUNE TIME OUT HELP MORE PEOPLE FIND RECOVERY AND DEMONSTRATE THAT OVER 22
MILLION AMERICANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE RECOVERY AND WE PROMOTE THE WIDESPREAD UNDERSTANDING
THAT LONG-TERM RECOVERY IS A REALITY AND A PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME AND SUPPORT.
SO, BY DOING THAT, WE ARE ABLE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND
STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS AND WHO ARE ALL ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN STATE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE ALSO PROMOTE PUBLIC POLICY IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE DISCRIMINATION KEEPS PEOPLE FROM SEEKING HELP
AND TO MOVING ON TO BETTER LIVES ONCE THEY ACHIEVE RECOVERY.
SO WE FOCUS ON POLICY ON THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.
SO THE ORGANIZE RED COVER RECOMMUNITY IS, WE BUILD THE SUPPORT AND THE ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT
THROUGH RECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND ANYONE AROUND THE COUNTRY BE, THEY ARE LED BY PEOPLE
IN RECOVERY, SO PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG ADDICTION.
AND, AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND ALLIES WHO ARE ALL PART OF THAT NETWORK.
THEY FOCUS ON ANY COMBINATION OF THESE THREE THINGS.
THEY ORGANIZED RECOVERY FOCUSED POLICY ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES SO THEY MIGHT BE HOLDING AWARENESS DAYS
AT THE STATE CAPITOL OR IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY, RECOVERY WALKS.
THEY ALSO DO EDUCATION SO MAY BE DOING TRAINING PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PIER-BASE RED COVER RESUPPORT
SERVICES.
SO THERE IS A WHOLE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF OUR NATIONAL NETWORK
ARE PROVIDING SUCH AS PEER RECOVERY COACHING OVER TELLAPHOBE RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES -- TELEPHONE
RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES.
THEY DO TRAINING PREVENTION ANNA LOX OWN DISTRIBUTION.
THEY MOST -- AND NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION.
THEY HOST MEETINGS IN THEIR CENTERS AND ENGAGE FAMILIES.
THEY REALLY ARE THE HUB OF THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY SO THE PHYSICAL LOCATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE NATION.
AND THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLIC
ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE LIBRARIES, AND WE HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE THAT ARE DOING THAT AND KEVIN IS
GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE PEERS ARE INVOLVED IN THAT LIBRARY, AS WELL IN HIS LIBRARY.
I THINK THERE IS A TREMENDOUS ROLE FOR HAVING THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN YOUR EFFORTS.
IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE THERE MAP ON THERE, WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE COs, YOU WILL SEE ON THE MAP MANY ARE FOCUSED ON THE EAST COAST, THERE IS GREAT
EXPANSION IN MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVING A
VOICE TO PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, MUCH OF OUR WORK HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY ON TRAINING PEOPLE TELL THEIR
STORIES IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY SO IT PUTS A POSITIVE LIGHT ON RECOVERY AND DEMONSTRATES THAT PEOPLE
IN RECOVERY CAN GET WELL AND BECOME PART OF THEIR ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT ENGAGED IN POLICY WORK.
SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 2001 WHEN WE WERE FORMED IN A SUMMIT IN SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, SO SOON
TO BE 20 YEARS OF MOBILIZING THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY.
THIS GROWING NETWORK ARE PLACES WHERE NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTERS, BUT THEY ARE
ENGAGING PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT GETS THEM INVOLVED IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SO BECOMING ACTIVE MEMBERS OF
THEIR COMMUNITY, LEARNING ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTER EDUCATION AND BEING PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR
RECOVERY.
OF COURSE NOT EVERYONE CHOOSES TO BE PUBLIC ABOUT THEIR RECOVERY BUT WE DO PROVIDE PEOPLE TIPS AND
OPPORTUNITIES AND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED AND VOLUNTEER BECAUSE IT IS A CAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT.
SO, HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS IN DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS WORKING IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE, THEY HAVE A RECOVERY FRIENDLY WORK PLACE INITIATIVE THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND
S.O.S. RECOVERY IS LOCATED IN DOVER AND ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THEY HAVE TWO RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE STATE TO TRAIN EMPLOYERS
AND BUSINESSES AROUND THE STATE IN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A RECOVERY-FRIENDLY WORK PLACE.
AND THIS IS REALLY EXCITING THAT, WHEN THE S.O.S. REACHED OUT AND LET ME KNOW THEY WERE PROUD TO BE
A PARTNER WITH DOVER PUBLIC LIBRARY, AS A RECOVERY FRIENDLY WORK PLACE, SO WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR
MORE STATES TO CREATE THESE INITIATIVES TO IDENTIFY WHERE RECOVERY IS VALUED AND THERE IS A PLACE
WE CAN PUT A STAMP ON IT THAT IS RECOVERY FRIENDLY WORK PLACE AND SOME DAY WE WILL HAVE -- IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE, THEY HAVE THESE DECALS THAT LOOK LIKE THEIR LOGO THAT ARE POSTED ON DIFFERENT BUSINESSES
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
I NOTICE THERE ARE FOLKS FROM UTAH AND SALT LAKE CITY AND UTAH SUPPORT ADVOCATES IS DOING MUCH OF
THIS WORK WITH EDUCATING EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES AND LAY PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
THE SCIENCE OF ADDICTION RECOVERY AND HOW TO TELL OUR STORY IN A POSITIVE WAY.
THERE'S ALSO FOLKS, I THINK, ON TODAY IN FROM VERMONT AND THE VERMONT RECOVERY NETWORK WITH RCOs
FROM ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE, THEY OPERATE THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTERS THEY'RE LOCATED IN EACH
COUNTY, AND THEY'RE MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE BY PARTNERING IN THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGING THEIR
FOLKS AND REFERRING THEM TO PLACES LIKE LIBRARIES WHERE THEY COULD FURTHER THEIR WELLNESS AND THEIR
EDUCATION OR JOB SEARCHES.
ALTHOUGH MANY OF THESE CENTERS ARE CONDUCTING THAT IN THEIR OWN CENTERS, AS WELL.
OTHER FOLKS I SAW ON THE WEBINAR FROM HOUSTON, FABULOUS RECOVERY ORGANIZATION THERE CALLED CENTER
FOR RECOVERY AND WELLNESS WHICH HAS VARIOUS OUTPOSTS AROUND THE CITY IN CITY BUILDINGS, WHERE
THEY'RE PROVIDING PEER RECOVERY COACHING AND ENGAGING IN INTEGRATION THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY, NOT HIDING IN BACKAL ALLEYS, WE'RE VERY VISIBLE ON MAIN STREET.
THE PIER WORKERS, KEVIN CAN TALK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, BUT PEER WORKERS
COME FROM A PLACE OF LIVED EXPERIENCE OF RECOVERY, SO THAT IS THE VALUE OF WHAT THEY SHARE.
IT'S WHAT WORKED IN MY RECOVERY.
HOW CAN I BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
MAYBE GIVING THEM THE EXTRA BOOST THEY NEED GET THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
THROUGH IT AND I KNOW THE WAY OUT AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT THE PEERNESS IS ALL.
IF IS NOT THE EXPERIENCE OF ADDICTION, IT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF RECOVERY.
WE'VE HAD EXPERIENCE OF EARLY RECOVERY, WE KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE TOUGH SITUATIONS AND BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE NON-CLINICAL AND STRENGTH-BASED SUPPORT.
SO JUST TO LEAVE YOU 10 CONCRETE STEPS YOU CAN DO TO MOBILIZE THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY, BRING PEOPLE,
CONNECT WITH OUR ORGANIZATION OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WE WILL DIRECT YOU, IF
YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN RECOVERY AT THE TABLE, BRING THEM IN EARLY AND OFTEN.
GIVE THEM A PURPOSE.
ASK THEM TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL ROLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
THAT'S WHAT WE CRAVE IN OUR RECOVERY IS FINDING PURPOSE.
SO BEING AT THE TABLE BUT WITH A MEANINGFUL ROLE.
AND IDENTIFYING LEADERS IN THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY.
THEY MAY WEAR DIFFERENT HATS.
THEY MAY BE PUBLIC OFFICIALS BUT THEY REALLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
RECOVERY CHAMPIONS, IT MAY BE A BUSINESSMAN, A MAYOR, A POLITICIAN, SOMEBODY WHO CAN BE A CHAMPION
FOR THE CAUSE AND BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AND ENGAGE THEM WITH THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY SO THEY
BECOME THOSE TRUSTED VENDORS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE ISSUE BUT THEY ALSO BRING
GREAT INTEGRITY TO THIS AND HELP TO HIGHLIGHT THE MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IN
RECOVERY.
AND WE ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY VISIONS SESSIONS.
LIBRARIES ARE A GREAT PLACE TO DO THAT, ENGAGE THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY ASK THEM TO COME OUT AND SAY
WHAT DOES A RECOVERY READY COMMUNITY LOOK LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER CATCH PHRASE WE'VE BEEN USE, RECOVERY READY COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS?
WHERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS RECOVERY THRIVING?
SO OFTEN THE DATA YOU FIND IS HIGHLIGHTING THE HOT SPOTS OF THE ADDICTION PROBLEM, SUBSTANCE ABUSE
DISORDER, BUT REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS HOW DO WE ENGAGE IN A STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH FIND
OUT, ARE THERE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES LIKE SOBER SOFTBALL CLUBS OR THINGS THAT ARE ATHLETIC BASED OR
OUTDOOR-BASE RED COVER RETHAT ARE REALLY WORKING WELL, FINDING THEM AND PROMODING THEM IN A
STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH.
AND, THEN, CONDUCTING A RECOVERY CAPITAL ASSESSMENT, WHICH REALLY IS THE STRENGTHS AND ASSETS IN A
COMMUNITY AND THE EXTERNAL ASSETS THAT REALLY ARE WHERE RECOVERY CAN THRIVE.
THINGS TAR NOT DISCRIMINATORY, BREAKING DOWN EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS AND STEPPING UP AND BEING AN
ADVOCATE FOR THEM RECOVERY.
AND GETTING CREATIVE.
I KNOW LIBRARIES ARE VERY INNOVATIVE, FINDING WAYS TO PARTNER WITH THE PEOPLE IN RECOVERY.
AND THEN SHARING PERSONAL STORIES.
SO OFTEN WE HEAR THAT PEOPLE NEED SOME TIPS ON HOW TO KIND OF REFINE THEIR MESSAGE IN A WAY THAT
MAKES AN IMPACT IN A WAY THAT, SAY YOU ONLY HAD TWO MINUTES IN THE ELEVATOR OR TWO MEET WITH
SOMEBODY IN THE RECOVERY CHAMPION IN THE COMMUNITY AND WANT TO TELL YOUR STORY, HOW TO DO THAT IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY THAT MAKES CHANGE, SO THERE'S WAYS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE REFINE THEIR STORY-TELLING
SKILLS.
AGAIN, LIKE THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTERS VISIBLE ON MAIN STREET AND WE'RE SEEING THAT ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY THAT THEY'RE NOT TREATMENT CENTERS AND THEY'RE CENTERS AND WILLINGS WHERE PEOPLE GATHER
AND FIND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.
AND CELEBRATING RECOVERY FROM ADDITION LIKE DURING NATIONAL ALCOHOL, NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH,
INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS USER SPONSORED BY THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION EVERY SEPTEMBER.
YOU WILL HUB EVENT WILL BE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 19, HOPEFULLY.
SO LOTS GOING ON AND WE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE TIPS 2009 THE RECOVERY
COMMUNITY AND LIBRARIES ACROSS THE NATION.
SO, FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU WILL SEE OUR WEBSITE AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER.
AND, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KEVIN, I BELIEVE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, PATTY.
I APPRECIATE THE SET UP FOR WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
SO BEFORE YOU, GET SOME STATS HERE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHERE WE'RE AT.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING, BUT THESE STATS ARE IN THE REPORT THAT OCLC PIT OUT SO YOU
CAN LOOK AT THEM MORE IN DEPTH.
THE ONE THING TO POINT OUT, I KNEW OUR COMMUNITY HAD AN ISSUE OR PROBLEM WITH OPIOIDS JUST HEARING
ABOUT IT IN THE COMMUNITY OFF AND ON.
BUT THEN WHEN I RECOLLECT SAW THIS NUMBER, THE LAST BULLET POINT ON THIS SLIDE, OUT OF EVERY 100
PEOPLE, 63.3 OF THEM ARE APPRECIATED AN OPIOID IS WHEN IT TOTALLY HIT HOME AND I KNEW THEN I NEEDED
TO DO SOMETHING.
WE HEARD STORIES ABOUT INSTANCES OF OVERDOSES IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MOSTLY IN LARGER LIBRARIES.
I HAVE A FRIEND IN A LIBRARY IN PHILADELPHIA WHO MANY MIGHT HAVE HEARD ABOUT WHO, WITHIN A YEAR,
HAD USED NARCAN OVER 7 OR 10 TIMES SO JUST HEARING ABOUT THAT, I KNEW I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO FIND A PLACE WHERE I COULD SIT AT THE TABLE AND
ADDRESS THIS OPIOID ISSUE.
SO, WHAT I DID WAS, JUST GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND, WE -- I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, FIRST I
WANT TO SAY THE COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY.
I FIND THAT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID ISSUE WAS GOING TO BE A PRETTY EASY SELL IN
A LOT OF WAYS, AND IT WAS KIND OF EASY TO FIND INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN LEAD ME AND STEER ME TO PLACES
WHERE I CAN SIT AT THE TABLE AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN RESPOND AS A PUBLIC LIBRARY TO THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC.
SO, WHAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT WAS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE KALAMAZOO COUNTY OPIOID COALITION.
THE FIRST MEETING I SAT DOWN AND THEY WENT AROUND THE TABLE AND WHAT DOES EVERYBODY DO.
I WORK WITH A SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY, I WORK WITH A MEDICAL AGENCY.
I WORK AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY.
EVERYONE TURNED THEIR HEADS LIKE, WHY ARE YOU HERE?
IT WAS JUST SURPRISING HOW THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST CONTAINED TO THE AREAS THEY
HAD HEARD ABOUT BUT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS AN AREA IN EACH CITY THAT REALLY WAS LOOKING AT THE
ISSUES OF OPIOID USE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES US GREAT IS WE TEND TO BE A SMALL STATEMENT TYPE PLACE AND PEOPLE KNOW
THEY CAN GO THERE AND FEEL RELATIVELY SAFE.
THAT COMES WITH THIS STOCK THAT YOU COULD USE IN A LIBRARY AND IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP YOU,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE TO HELP YOU SO THAT'S WHERE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF OPIOID OVERDOSES IN
LIBRARIES.
WHEN I WAS AT THE TABLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THERE IS A GENTLEMAN, THE MIDDLE GUY IN THE PICTURE IN
SHAWN HARRIS, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WHAT HIS ORGANIZATION DOES, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT,
RECOVERY INSTITUTE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, HE SAID THE WORD PEER SUPPORT AND I WAS SUPER EXCITED
BECAUSE I HAD JUST READ AN ARGUE ABOUT PEER SUPPORT IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES -- READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT
PEER SUPPORT IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN DENVER, SAN FRANCISCO, WASHINGTON, D.C. AND BROOKLYN.
SO I WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED TO TALK TO SHAWN AFTER THE MEETING.
AND I APPROACHED HIM AFTER THE MEETING AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WAYS I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN KALAMAZOO IS AT THE LIBRARY.
HE WAS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK AND HE'S, LIKE, I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE COULD MAKE SURE WE HAVE
PEER NAVIGATORS, PEER SUPPORT IN THE LIBRARY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.
WHEN THEY GO TO COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY THE PLACE THEY GO TO MOST OR RIGHT AWAY IS THE PUBLIC
LIBRARY, EVEN IF IT IS WARMTH, GET COOL, USE THE RESTROOMS, POWER FOR THEIR CELL PHONES, THEY'RE
COMING TO THE LIBRARY ALREADY SO WHY NOT MEET THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT.
MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT, MAKE SURE PEER NAVIGATORS ARE THERE TO HELP THEM GET
CONNECTED TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
AND A PEER NAVIGATOR IS SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED THE LIFE, SOMEONE WHO CAN SAY I'VE BEEN THERE, I KNOW
WHERE YOU'RE AT.
I'VE NOT BEEN THERE, IT IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE DEALT WITH, SO TO THERE AND HAVE RESOURCES, JUST LIKE
THE LIBRARIAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE, RESOURCES HELPING OUT, PEOPLE GET CONNECTED TO THINGS.
THE PEER NAVIGATORS DO THE SAME THING.
WE FELT LIKE HAVING PEER NAVIGATORS IN THE LIBRARY WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
ONE THING TO SAY, PEER NAVIGATORS THEY MOVE ABOUT THE LIBRARY, INTERACTING WITH INDIVIDUALS,
TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEY OR JUST TALKING AND GIVING SOME SOCIAL SUPPORT,
GIVING THEM CONNECTED RESOURCES.
AS A GOOD LIBRARIAN, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.
WE CONNECT PEOPLE RESOURCES.
A PEER NAVIGATOR IS A HUMAN RESOURCE.
THIS ALSO HELPED ME TO SELL IT TO STAFF AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
THE RECOVERY INSTITUTE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN IS IS A PUBLIC PROGRAM, WE ENDED UP WORKING TOGETHER
ON THIS ISSUE OF ADDRESSING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
I WANT TO SAY, BEFORE I GO INTO THAT -- NO, I'LL SHAVE FOR THE END.
SHAWN AND I GOT TO WORK, SAT TOGETHER, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AT
THE LIBRARY.
AS I SAID, WE STARTED THE PROGRAM TALKING TO SHAWN AT THE RECOVERY INSTITUTE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN,
WE DECIDED TO HAVE A PEER NAVIGATOR COME TO THE LIBRARY A FEW TIMES A WEEK TO JUST SET UP A TABLE
AND BE A PRESENCE, BE THERE IN THE LIBRARY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT TALK TO IF THEY NEEDED HELPED IN
THE RECOVERY JOURNEY.
WE STARTED SUPER SMALL, WE HAD JUST A SMALL LITTLE TABLE.
WE STARTED WITH THREE HOURS A WEEK BACK IN 2018.
IT WAS WENT SEPTEMBER 11, 2018, WAS OUR FIRST DAY.
WE STARTED WITH THREE HOURS A WEEK AND NOW WE HAVE ABOUT 45 HOUR AS WEEK AND THREE PEER NAVIGATORS
WORKING AND TWO OF OUR FIVE LOCATIONS SO WE STARTED SMALL.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS GOING TO WORK.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS I ENDED UP TALKING TO A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS ABOUT OUR PEER NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS TALKING TO, BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE ROOM I FOUND I WAS TALKING TO THE MAYOR,
A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, OUR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, JUST A LOT OF POWER PLAYERS IN OUR COMMUNITY,
AND SOMEBODY THERE WAS PART OF AN ORGANIZATION WHO COULD HELP SUM MEANT TO PAY -- SUPPLEMENT
PAY FOR MORE HOURS OF PEER NAVIGATORS.
KALAMAZOO STARTED REALLY SMALL AND WE'RE A REALLY COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY SUCCEEDED IN OUR END.
SO SOME OF THE BENEFITS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE STAFF KNEW THAT THE PEER NAVIGATORS WERE THERE
TO GIVE THEM SUPPORT, TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR JOB EVERY DAY.
ONE OF THE TIPPING POINTS FOR ME TO LOOK FOR PEER NAVIGATORS IS ONE TIME A STAFF MEMBER SAID TO ME,
AN ATOLT HAD COME TO THEM, SOMEBODY WHO HAD SOME DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND CAME UP TO THE DEATH AND
SAID I'M HUNGRY.
I DIDN'T GO TO LIBRARY SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO FIND THOSE RESOURCES.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THESE RESOURCES WERE LIKE PEER NAVIGATOR.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE BROUGHT -- ANOTHER REASON WE BROUGHT PEER NAVIGATORS IN TO HELP
PEOPLE, TO FIND PEOPLE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, WHETHER IT WAS RECOVERY OR JUST NEEDED SOME FOOD.
WHAT WE DID WAS, WE ENDED UP HAVING EVERY MONTH WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED KPL ACADEMY, AND WHAT KPL
ACADEMY IS, IT IS A PROGRAM BEFORE WE, AFTER OUR MONTHLY STAFF MEETING, TO KIND OF SHOW A NEW
SERVICE, TRAIN IN SOMETHING, JUST TO KIND OF MAKE PEOPLE AWARE.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS, WE TALKED ABOUT RECOVERY INSTITUTE AND THEIR PEERS SUPPORT SERVICE.
SO THE STAFF GOT TO KNOW NOT ONLY THE PEER NAVIGATORS WILL BE WORKING AT THE LIBRARY WHAT WHAT THEY
WOULD DOWN HOW THEY WILL HELP THEM DO THEIR JOBBER.
I THINK IT REALLY HELPED -- ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS AFRAID OF IS ONE OF THE LIBRARIANS THERE
SOME, NOT ALL, BUT SOME LIBRARIANS THAT SAY I DON'T NEED THE HELP, YOU CAN DO WHAT I NEED TO DO
WITH IN COMPUTER AND MY BRAIN.
BUT I THINK HAVING THIS INTRODUCTION TO PEER SUPPORT REALLY HELPED THEM REALIZE THIS IS A SERVICE
THEY SHOULD REALLY GRAB ON TO AND RUN WITH.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO GO FAST HERE.
WE -- THE BENEFITS WE TALKED ABOUT, IT HELPS WITH SECURITY.
ANOTHER REASON WE STARTED THE PEER NAVIGATOR PROGRAM WAS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING PEOPLE IN
THE BUILDINGS TO BE ON THE FRONT LINES WITH THIS BATTLE AND PEEVE NAVIGATORS HELP WITH SECURITY.
I'M NOT TRAINED TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND WHEN I APPROACH THEM
LOOKING LIKE A LIBRARIAN OR THE GUARD IS GOING TO APPROACH THEM LOOKING LIKE A GUARD, THEY WILL GET
A DIFFERENT REACTIONS THAN SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE.
WE'RE BEEN WORKING ON ANTI­RACISM EFFORTS AND THIS IS A HUGE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING
RESOURCES AND GIVING ALL INDIVIDUALS THE SPACE THEY NEED TO FEEL SAFE AND UNSTIGMATIZED.
THAT LEADS ME TO ONE OTHER THING I MENTIONED, THE UNSTIGMATIZED PART IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE NOW THEY
WILL START HAVING THEIR SUPPORT GROUPS AT THE L LIBRARY YOU KNOW, WE ASSUME THAT EVERYONE THAT IS DEALING WITH AN OPIOID ADDICTION
LOOKS HOMELESS OR UNHOUSED, AND THAT'S NOT TRUE THIS ALLOWS PEOPLE COME IN, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT
THEY'RE GOING TO THE LIBRARY FOR, FOR A PROGRAM NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT AND FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ATTEND
AND WORK ON RECOVERY AT THE LIBRARY.
THAT AS WHERE THE PEER SUPPORT NAVIGATOR IS HELPFUL, AS WELL.
I HAD ONE PEER NAVIGATOR SAY PEOPLE HE TALKED WITH NEVER TALK TO HIM AT THE MISSION WITH YOU THEY
TALK TO HIM AT THE LIBRARY.
THEY SAY I WOULD RATHER TALK TO YOU AT THE LIBRARY AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT, AS WELL.
AS YOU LOOK AT THIS PEER SUPPORT 5 STORY, FOUR WEEKS AGO, BEFORE WE CLOSED BEFORE THE COVID-19, THE
MONDAY BEFORE WE CLOSED FOR COVID-19, I WAS WALKING BACK TO MY OFFICE AND I SAW AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
HAD SOME BELABORED BREATHING SETTING ON THE BOTTOM STEPS.
I APPROACHED HER AND IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING I RECEIVED, THE NARCAN TRAINING I HAD
RECEIVED THAT WE PROVIDE FOR STAFF, THE OPIOID AWARENESS TRAINING, I WAS ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE,
APPLY NARCAN AND WE SAVED THAT INDIVIDUAL'S LIFE.
LIKE EVERYTHING, TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING MADE IT, GAVE ME THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE,
GET TO THE SITUATION RIGHT AWAY.
THE POLICE ACTUALLY SAID, WOW, HOW DID YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?
AND THEY WERE AMAZED THAT WE HAD TRAINING IN THE LIBRARY AND WE HAD NARCAN IN THE LIBRARY.
SO I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, AND WE JUST GOT STICKERS MADE TO PUT ON OUR DOORS
SAYING NARCAN AVAILABLE HERE SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT.
SO THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THE WHOLE PROGRAM, THE PEER NAVIGATORS KNOW HOW TO USE
NARCAN, OBVIOUSLY.
WE TRAIN OUR STAFF IN OPIOID AWARENESS.
WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT, FOUR TRAINING AS YEAR.
ONE THING IN CLOSING, TO SHOW IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEER SUPPORT IS IN THE SOCIALLY
EMOTIONAL.
WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE LIBRARY IS A TIMES THEY'RE WORKING WITH SOMEBODY THREE TO FOUR
MONTHS BEFORE THEY REFER THEM TO ADDICTION TREATMENT OR REFER THEM TO HOUSING.
SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS OVER THE 11-MONTH SPAN.
SO, I AM TALKING SUPER FAST, I HOPE I GOT IN EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED TO HEAR AND I'M HOPING FOR
QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE PANEL.
>> THANKS, KEVIN.
THANK YOU, KEVIN.
THIS IS KENDRA.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND ASK IS AROUND PRIVACY, AND THIS WAS
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP AS WE DID THE RESEARCH FOR THIS PROJECT AND THAT IS HOW
 DO DO YOU MAINTAIN PRIVACY, CERTAINLY WITH THE PEER NAVIGATORS THAT IS AN ISSUE.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE PEER NAVIGATORS MANAGE INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY AT KPL?
>> THAT IS ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION.
SHAWN SAYS THAT WHEN HE, THE PARTNERSHIP AT THE LIBRARY WAS SUPERNATURAL BECAUSE OUR MISSIONS WERE
SO SIMILAR AND THE WAY WE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS IS SO SIMILAR.
ONE OF THE -- ONE ASPECT OF THAT IS THE PEER NAVIGATORS ARE TRAINED AND LICENSED BY THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN, THEY HAVE TO ADD HERE TO ALL THE HIPPA RULES, WHICH IS HIGH ON PRIVACY JUST LIKE
LIBRARIES ARE VERY HIGH ON PATRON PRIVACY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BRING PEER NAVIGATORS IN AND SET DOWN AND TALK ABOUT LIBRARY PRIVACY, THEY
ALREADY KNOW.
THEY ALREADY UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF PRIVACY.
WHEN THEY KEEP TRACK OF STATISTICS, THEY DON'T BY JOHN DOUGH, THIS, THIS AND THIS.
WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO, YOU WANT TO GO INTO THAT SITUATION AND ASK A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE
THAT IS GOING TO SCARE SOMEBODY AWAY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP.
PRIVACY IS NOT AN ISSUE AT ALL.
WE TALK VERY LITTLE ABOUT -- WE TALK ABOUT SITUATIONS MORE THAN PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES WE DO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S BEEN PRETTY EASY ISSUE TO TRAVERSE WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE WELL VERSED IN HIPPA.
>> I HEARD SOMETHING SIMILAR IN DENVER, DOING A CASE STUDY THERE, AND THEY ARE REALLY CONSCIENTIOUS
ABOUT MAINTAINING PRIVACY AND NOT REQUIRING PERSONAL INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY HELP AN
INDIVIDUAL.
AND THAT IS AT THE CORE OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS HELP SOMEONE AND THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO BE A BLOCKER TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT HELP.
THERE IS A FEW QUESTIONS COMING.
>> TO ANSWER CHRISTA'S QUESTION HERE, ARE ALL STAFF TRAINED IN YOUR LIBRARY OR JUST THE MANAGER.
FIRST OF ALL, HAVING THE MANAGERS TRAINED SOUNDS RIDICULOUS TO ME BECAUSE MOST MANAGERS DON'T WORK
ON THE FRONT LINES AS MUCH AS FRONT LINE STAFF.
YOU HAVE SECONDS TO SAVE SOMEONE'S WHETHER I HAVE NALOXONE, SO TO FIND YOUR ENERGY TO HAVE THEN
APPLY NALOXONE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT WILL WASTE SECONDS.
THAN WORKS AT THE LIBRARY GETS TRAINING.
675% OF THE STAFF HAS OPEN YESTERDAY AWARENESS AND HAS NALOXONE TRAINING.
WE DO IT FOUR TIMES A YEAR, IT IS REQUIRED.
IT IS SILLY NOT TO HAVE EVERYONE TRAINED.
EVERYBODY CAN GET THEIR OWN OVERDOSE KID.
WE HAVE 187 PEOPLE IN OUR LIBRARY.
IF THEY ALL WANTED OVERDOSE KITS, THEY CAN HAVE IT.
I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON YOU BUT YOUR QUESTION SEEMS SILLY TO ME BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS THE
TRAINING.
>> THERE'S LOTS OF QUESTIONS COMING FLY NARCAN AND ACCESS TO NALOXONE AND I THINK IT THE BIG THING
WE'RE HEARING ARE PEOPLE ARE PREFERRING TO HAVE IT AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT THEY CAN SAVE A LIFE SO
THAT IS JUST A REALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT.
YOU CAN READ MORE IN THE CASE STUDIES ABOUT HOW LIBRARIES HAVE TRACED THIS AND A LOT OF TIMES IT IS
OPTIONING FOR TRAINING STAFF AND EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT TYPE OF PROGRAM THEY CAN
IMPLEMENT HELP SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY AND THAT IS A CORNERSTONE OF ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE
LOOKED AT IS THAT EVERY LIBRARY WE TALKED, TO EVERY COMMUNITY WAS REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT WAS THE
BEST THING FOR THEIR COMMUNITY FAN THAT WAS PROVIDING PAMPHLETS AND INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES ALL THE
WAY THROUGH TO PEER RECOVERY AND HAVING NALOXONE AVAILABLE.
IT IS TAKING TIME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN BEST SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY WHICH WE KNOW YOU
ARE ALL SO GOOD AT, AND THIS IS JUST EXTENDING THAT INTO THE WORK ON SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES
THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
I'LL TURN BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TO KEVIN, PATTY, LARRA AND KENDRA. REMINDER, I WILL SEND YOU ALL THE E-MAIL
TODAY ONCE THE RECORDING AND CAPTIONS ARE ALL POSTED AND WE WILL SEND YOU TO A SHORT SURVEY AS YOU
LEAVE THE ROOM TODAY AND WE ASK THAT YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND WE'LL SHARE WITH
OUR PRESENTERS AND IT WILL HELP US IN OUR ON GOING PROGRAMMING.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT EVENT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.