The Genesee County Opioid Abuse Prevention VISTA Program builds capacity for local organizations to address the opioid epidemic through education, prevention and recovery. VISTA members will perform capacity building activities over the course of one year to reduce the number of opioid abuse incidences in the county.
Service Activities
Resource Development, Trainings, Community Awareness and Engagement, Partnership, Data and Research
Community Need Addressed
These numbers reflect a national problem: Opioid overdose is now "the leading cause of death in Americans under the age of 50" (Genesee Health Plan). Opioids (including prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl) killed more than 42,000 people in 2016, more than any year on record. 40% of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The President has made reversing these trends a top priority, and according to a recent press release by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the President's Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse aims to, among other things, "reduce drug demand through education, awareness, and preventing over-prescription." In line with this, in order to build capacity for Genesee County's efforts to slow and reverse trends in opioid abuse and deaths in Genesee County, we are seeking VISTAs to serve.
Position Outcomes
The VISTA project will seek to build capacity for local organizations to address the opioid epidemic, and expects to benefit approximately 70,000 students, parents, ex-offenders, and other residents. 5 VISTA members will contribute to the goals of the project by performing activities such as material development, training, community engagement, and partnership development over the course of one year.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Student loan forbearance, Training
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Improvise
Teamwork
Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Understand and anticipate the needs of others