The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) announced last week that they have awarded $1,000,000 to the University of Minnesota, in partnership with The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and Cook County Public Health and Human Services to strengthen and expand substance use disorder services including opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery services in Grand Portage and Cook County. 

Local consortium partners include: 

·        The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 

·        Sawtooth Mountain Clinic 

·        Cook County Public Health and Human Services 

·        University of Minnesota – College of Pharmacy 

·        University of Minnesota - Medical School 

·        University of Minnesota – Extension 

·        Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health 

·        Recovery Alliance Duluth 

·        Cook County School District ISD 166 

·        Carlton, Cook, Lake, St. Louis County Community Health Board 

·        Cook County Sherriff’s Office 

·        Cook County Higher Education 

·        Harm Reductio Sisters 

·        Oshki Ogimaag Charter School 

·        Great Expectations School 

·        Birch Grove Community School 

·        Violence Prevention Center 

"HRSA funds rural communities that can demonstrate high need for increased substance use prevention, intervention, recovery, and harm reduction services along with a strong consortium of dedicated individuals and agencies to support this work,” said Laura Palombi, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Students with the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy and Principal Investigator for the grant project. “I'm thrilled to be working with such a strong consortium and am looking forward to finding ways to increase capacity and services for the Grand Portage and Cook County community." 

The three-year grant will support prevention services with youth and schools, improving access to evidence-based treatment services for opioid use disorder and providing support to people in recovery from substance use disorders.  

For more information on the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Implementation Awards visit: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/opioid-response/implementation/fy22-awards.  

About Cook County, MN 

Cook County encompasses the sovereign nation of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; the City of Grand Marais; the Townships of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder; and unincorporated areas in the easternmost part of Minnesota’s North Shore. Cook County Government values transparency and strives to deliver superior services and programs in a fiscally responsible way. We value the dignity of all County residents and seek to create a community that provides opportunity for all. Many of our offices are in the Cook County Courthouse at 411 W 2nd St, Grand Marais 55604. Other departments and facilities, such as the Airport, Community Center, Highway and Sheriff are located nearby. Call 218-387-3000 or visit: https://co.cook.mn.us