Hennepin County, MN
Hennepin County Government
minnesota
Urban | Population: 1,258,713Hennepin County, Minnesota, faces a severe opioid crisis, with 377 opioid-related deaths in 2022 and a 66% increase in fatalities since 2018, driven by fentanyl-contaminated drugs. The Hennepin County Jail, Minnesota’s largest detention facility, processes over 25,000 admissions annually. Limited deputy availability to escort detainees to provider visits delays treatment initiation, particularly for short-stay inmates released within 1–4 days.
Key COSSUP Initiatives
MedICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT
Expand access to medications to treat individuals with opioid use disorders in the Hennepin County Jail.
Leverage telehealth for rapid substance use assessments.
Streamline buprenorphine dispensing in the jail, reducing nurse workload by 50% and enabling a 25% increase in medication distribution.
Expand access to medically-managed withdrawal protocols.
overdose prevention
Coordinate with community organizations to distribute over 62,000 doses of naloxone during the grant period.
HOUSING SUPPORT
Connect jail medical staff and housing providers to ensure continuity of care post-release.
Anticipated Benefits of Project
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This project aims to reduce overdose fatalities through access to timely and effective treatment, including medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) and naloxone distribution.
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This project aims to increase public safety through seamlessly transitioning individuals from treatment in custody to community-based treatment.
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This project aims to improve the reentry process and therefore reduce recidivism by addressing barriers to recovery, including housing.
Collaborative Partners
Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
Hennepin Healthcare
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Clinic
Southside Harm Reduction
Housing assistance programs
Project Director
Julie Bauch, Opioid Response Coordinator
Hennepin County
julie.bauch@hennepin.us
612-348-8900
This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA23GK02258COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.