Funded by the 2016 21st Century Cures Act (Cures) in response to the opioid overdose epidemic, the Opioid Crisis Response Team (OCRT) and Choices Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs deliver round-the-clock assessment, placement, and recovery services for individuals affected by opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural Indiana. Teams consist of peer recovery coaches, clinicians, and program managers, and work to screen and connect those with addictions with evidence-based treatment, community resources, and harm-reduction services such as syringe exchanges.

Modeled on mental health crisis intervention, these programs address the specific needs of individuals by coordinating with appropriate agencies, including hospitals, law enforcement, and housing. Teams maintain contact with clients for up to 60 days following the initial assessment.

A developmental evaluation of OCRT and CERT can be found here and a news article about the evaluation here.