Building a Vision Through Collaboration

Over the past 4 years, the Jay County, Indiana, rural suicide overdose fatality review (SOFR) team has reviewed 58 cases and identified 438 data-driven recommendations. These recommendations—categorized into immediate, intermediate, and longer-term actions—address gaps in services across the community. Immediate actions, such as educating emergency room patients about their prescribed medications, have helped sustain momentum among SOFR members. 

A major success was securing a recovery home; though it is not yet accepting individuals, its establishment has already addressed several key gaps identified in the recommendations. This home provides a foundation for future recovery support by creating a safe and supportive space, and its presence has already fostered stronger community collaboration. The consistent theme of safe and supportive housing remains the SOFR team’s top priority, and this presentation will showcase how addressing this need is helping turn the tide in the fight and in stigma reduction regarding substance use disorder.