COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The Colerain Township Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services won a national award for its unique approach to helping people into treatment.
The department will receive the Nicholas Rosecrans Award at the EMS Expo on Oct. 15 for its Quick Response Team. The team uses an all-hands-on-deck approach to get people with substance use disorders into recovery.
The QRT — a police officer, a firefighter/paramedic and an addiction counselor — respond to overdoses and follow up with the person to see if they’re ready for treatment. Since its inception in 2014, the program has a 70 percent success rate.
The department’s team is so effective that other agencies across the country have replicated the concept.
Last year, Colerain Fire and EMS started the Safe Station Program,which offers round-the-clock resources to people with substance use disorders.
The program, an extension of QRT, involves assessments for people who want treatment. First responders will contact the Addiction Services Council of Cincinnati for an appointment, and they’ll even drive someone to a treatment facility. All patients receive a Narcan kit from Hamilton County Public Health.
Colerain’s department will also be honored at the Ohio State House on Oct. 30 by the Ohio Chapter of the Addiction Policy Forum with the “Innovation Now” Award.
First responders will be awarded for their integrated approach to treatment through the Quick Response Team and Safe Station Program.
The department will also receive the Friends of the PWC Award from People Working Cooperatively on Tuesday. The award is for the department’s work in spearheading Colerain’s Give Back Day. Over the last three years the initiative has helped rehab more than two dozen homes in Colerain Township.
