The "Story Behind the Curve" helps us understand why the data on Substance Use is the way that it is in our community. When we understand the root causes of our community problems, we have a better chance of finding the right solutions, together.

What's Helping? These are the positive forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Opioid Settlement Funds
• Appalachian Community Service/ Vaya Health
• Appalachian Mountain Health
• Rock Bottom Recovery
• Suboxone Clinics
• Clay County Transportation
• Sheriffs Office supplied with Narcan
• Narcan Spray readily available
• Peer Support Groups
• Community Outreach Services
• Mountain Projects
• Chatuge Family Practice
• Faith based Community
• Implementation of a PORT (Post- Overdose Response Team) team
• Critical Incident Debriefings
• Clay County EMS 
• Clay County Fire & Rescue
• Clay County DSS

What's Hurting? These are the negative forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Housing Insecurity
• Poverty
• Unemployment
• Lack of Mental Health In-Patient Services
• Limited Resources
• Stigma and Shame
• Underfunded Systems
• Easy Access to Harmful Substances
• Unhealed Trauma or Grief

Partners in our Community Health Improvement Process: 

• Clay County Senior Center
• Community Paramedic
• Clay County School System
• Clay County Transportation
• Community for Students
• WNC Healthy Impact
• Mountain Projects
• Clay County Dental Clinic

Partners with a Role in Helping Our Community Do Better on This Issue:

• Chatuge Family Practice
• County Leadership
• Clay County Senior Center
• Mountain Projects
• Rock Bottom Recovery
• Appalachian Community Service/ Vaya Health
• Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital
• Union General Hospital
• Clay County Sheriff’s Office
• Appalachian Mountain Health
• Clay County Transportation
• Clay County EMS
• Clay County Fire & Rescue

Process for Selecting Priority Program/ Strategies

The following actions have been identified by our Clay County Health Department and community members as ideas for what can work for our community to make a difference with Mental Health and Substance Use.

Actions and Approaches Identified by Our Partners these are actions and approaches that our partners think can make a difference with Mental Health and Substance Use.

• Peer Support Specialist
• PORT Team (Post Overdose Response Team)
• Narcan Distribution
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• ACE's Training
• Educating the Youth
• Encouraging Extracurricular Activities- Sports, Art Program, Book Clubs, Music, Dance. Anything that gives a person a sense of belonging.

What is Currently Working in Our Community these are actions and approaches that are currently in place in our community to make a difference with Mental Health and Substance Use.

• Faith-based Community Outreach
• Appalachian Community Services
• Vaya Health
• Chatuge Family Practice- Dr. Travis Williams
• Youth Extracurricular Activities
• Mountain Projects- ACEs Trainings
• Narcan Training

Evidence-Based Strategies these are actions and approaches that have been shown to make a difference with Mental Health and Substance Use.

What Community Members Most Affected by Mental Health and Substance Use Say these are the actions and approaches recommended by members of our community who are most affected by Mental Health and Substance Use.

• The need for more specialized providers
• Decreased Stigma
• Education about Mental Health and Substance Use
• Engaging Community Members in the planning/ Implementation of how to address Mental Health and Substance Use.