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Bourne and Sandwich – The Barnstable Probate and Family Court has introduced Project LINKS, a program that works to connect individuals to either Community Health Center of Cape Cod or Duffy Health Center for Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) treatment, primary care and other health-related services, or to the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod (ASGCC) for overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) and harm reduction services. Project LINKS provides MOUD and OEND treatment in order to reduce opioid overdoses and deaths. This project also provides resources and support for caregivers responsible for the care of children of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). Project LINKS services are for individuals struggling with OUD and/or caregivers/family members involved in the care of children who have been impacted by their parent’s or another family member’s disorder. All services are confidential and provided free of charge to participants in the program. “We understand that a number of people who come through the Barnstable Probate and Family Court may be struggling with substance use disorders, or have friends or family members who may be struggling,” Chief Probation Officer Donna Feinberg said. “This program is a collaborative effort among different agencies that have expertise in helping individuals with their substance use disorders and will get them the help and resources they need.” When an individual is referred to Project LINKS through the Barnstable Probate and Family Court, a Recovery Support Navigator or a Harm Reduction Specialist from one of the partnering agencies will call the individual to answer any questions, complete a phone screening and discuss possible care management options. To learn more about Project LINKS, please contact Chief Probation Officer Donna Feinberg at (508) 375-6734 for more information. This program is part of the Bourne and Sandwich HEALing Communities Study-Massachusetts Coalition, convened by Boston Medical Center and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The coalition is attended by a multi-disciplinary group of community stakeholders, including: local and state government, public health and healthcare agencies, harm reduction agencies, criminal justice and law enforcement, recovery centers and individuals with lived experience. Massachusetts is ranked among the top 10 states with the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths, and this program is part of larger effort to help reduce this statistic. This study aims to decrease opioid overdose deaths in Bourne and Sandwich and 15 other Massachusetts communities by 40 percent. To learn more about this study, and other programs to help individuals with substance use disorders, please visit www.HEALTogetherMA.org/Barnstable and www.healingcommunitiesstudy.org. The Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative, or NIH HEAL InitiativeSM, is an aggressive, trans-NIH effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. Launched in April 2018, the initiative is focused on improving prevention and treatment strategies for opioid misuse and addiction, and enhancing pain management. For more information, visit: www.heal.nih.gov.