Cooperative Extension System Working Group to Focus on Tackling Opioid Crisis

To help tackle the nation’s opioid crisis, APLU’s Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) established an Extension Opioid Crisis Response Committee charged with developing a nationwide strategic framework with steps land-grant universities can take to address the opioid addiction in their communities.

The working group has two aims:

• Developing a broader strategic framework for Extension activities in the behavioral health arena. Last week, Cooperative Extension directors and administrators were invited to either complete the 15-minute “Extension Behavioral Health Survey” or share the survey link with the most knowledgeable behavioral health person in their organization. The results from the survey will provide a comprehensive resource library for use by Extension colleagues across the country.
• Providing Extension substance abuse program resources that can be quickly expanded across state lines. From May 24 through June 1, a series of webinars will share information about these programs. Learn more about joining the webinars live, viewing the recordings, or offering assessment of the programs.

Questions about the effort can be directed to working group coordinator Mark Skidmore, mskidmor@msu.edu or Cooperative Extension/ECOP Executive Director Rick Klemme rickklemme@extension.org.