Who We Are
Substance Abuse Leadership Team (SALT)
County-Wide Collaboration Makes Strides in
Overcoming Opioid Epidemic
The Ashtabula County Substance Abuse Leadership Team (SALT) was formed in March 2017 to address the complex issues of opioid use, misuse, abuse, and overdose deaths in the County as well as gather information for coordinated responses to all substance abuse problems the County may face now and in the future. The work of the Ashtabula County Substance Abuse Leadership Team includes: reducing the number of drug overdoses; increasing public safety; increasing public education and information; and improving a coordinated response to promote prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery support efforts.
The Leadership Team aims to take a collaborative community-wide approach to combat the drug epidemic plaguing Ashtabula County. The core values agreed upon by the Leadership Team are:
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Addiction is our community’s problem and requires collective and coordinated community solutions.
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Addiction is a major health problem that affects the community at every social-economic level and at every level of community development.
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Through collaboration and the wise use of resources we can make a difference.
The Team works to explore and identify additional needs of the community and responds collectively to service issues and accessibility. This work has led to actions such as expanding treatment option, increasing recovery support services such as employment and housing services, targeting the reduction of unused prescription medication in the community, spearheading the distribution of naloxone in the community to save lives until treatment can be accessed, enhancing prevention efforts and supporting activities that build positive social connections in our community.
Miriam Walton
Miriam Walton currently serves as Executive Director of the Ashtabula Mental Health and Recovery Services Board and has held that role since 2009. Prior to that role, she served as Assistant Director of the Board (2001- 2009) and as Coordinator of the Ashtabula County Family and Children First Council (1997-2001). In her role as Executive Director, she works directly with local data, engages in planning efforts, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders. She has built strong relationships throughout Ashtabula County.
Consortium Members
Collaborators
Casey Kozlowski, Commissioner
Ashtabula County Commissioners
Ray Saporito, Health Commissioner
Ashtabula County Health Department
Miriam Walton, Executive Director
Ashtabula County Mental Health and
Recovery Services Board
Paul Bolino¸ CEO
Community Counseling Center
Vincent Gildone, Director
Northwest Ambulance District
COP-RCORP Implementation Products
For the Implementation project period, COP-RCORP addressed 15 core activities under the 4 categories listed below. Click each image to learn more about the specific activities undertaken and how COP-RCORP affected change in each area.