Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium

The Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium (NMORC) program under the Michigan Center for Rural Health began in 2018. Analyzing rural county data regarding opioid and substance use disorder, the Center found a prevailing need to address this burgeoning crisis. At that time, 16 counties in northern Lower Michigan met criteria for funding based on overdose cases and over-prescription trends and had very little recovery capital at the time to support sustained recovery. 

In 2019, Michigan Center for Rural Health received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a planning grant through the “Rural Communities Opioid Response Program” (RCORP). This grant allowed for MCRH to organize community partners to develop a workplan to address:

• Prevention

• Treatment

• Recovery

• Workforce

That planning grant was followed by a 2019 opportunity through HRSA to secure a 3-year funding grant to implement the work plan. Over the following years, MCRH was able to expand the catchment area to include 25 counties in northern Lower Michigan and now work with more than 50 partner organizations to coordinate activities and share best practices. 

NMORC offers training opportunities, community awareness events, technical assistance and overdose safety resources that can help organizations across NMORC’s 25-county area build recovery capital and ultimately work to reduce stigma, build empathy and create an environment for people seeking risk reduction and recovery support … thrive.