BCARES: Bucks County Connect, Access. Refer. Engage. Support (Pennsylvania) is a warm handoff collaboration between the six Bucks County hospital emergency departments and an assigned Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) for individuals who have survived an opioid overdose. Through BCARES, opioid overdose survivors are offered a direct connection from the emergency department to treatment and recovery support services. BCARES is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For an overdose survivor, the hospital emergency department will make a referral directly to the CRS. The CRS will meet face-to-face with the person, and will connect them directly to resources, recovery supports and treatment options. For individuals who are not overdose survivors, but who do use substances, hospital staff will make a referral to the CRS. The CRS will then meet face-to-face with the person, and will provide recovery support, education, resources and treatment options. A component of the BCARES Initiative is Health Care Professionals Opposing Stigma. These health care professionals share with the hospital staff their recovery stories and lessons learned through education and support. They also provide information about stigma, recovery language, the impact to the hospitals and resources for recovery. Additional information and locations of BCARES participant hospitals are provided.
United for Youth
Creating a path forward for children, youth and families impacted by substance use.