The California Youth Opioid Response (YOR California) project envisions a California with a continuum of accessible and effective youth-specific services. With this goal in mind, YOR California is working with local communities and other stakeholders to prevent and reduce opioid overdose deaths and opioid use disorders (OUD) among youth (ages 12–24).
Youth OUD is everyone’s problem, and everyone has a stake in addressing it. YOR California is expanding access to OUD prevention, intervention, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and other treatment and recovery services for youth and their families. These solutions include access to early interventions, MAT, relevant peer and recovery systems, are based in positive youth development, and involve community partnerships. YOR California encourages the development of new partnerships between the systems that influence/affect/impact youth.
The YOR California framework is based on key principles for successful outcomes, and the project offers the following resources to help make this a reality:
Subgrants. DHCS has allocated $11 million to support local and statewide efforts to expand access to youth.
Professional Resources. YOR California has identified protocols, guidelines, toolkits and other relevant resources that help improve services for youth. YOR California will bring together stakeholders to discuss best practices in statewide learning sessions.
Educational Materials. YOR California will post resources that have been developed for youth, families, and communities on the risks of opioid use and other relevant topics.
Partnerships and Convenings. YOR California is available for limited consultation and support on improving youth access to MAT and reaching and engaging youth.
