Mainline Health Systems, Inc. (MHSI) is pleased to announce it has been awarded $790,333.88 in opioid settlement funding through the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP) to expand Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and related opioid abatement services in Grant County and surrounding areas.
This funding supports a comprehensive, evidence‑based strategy to address opioid use disorder by expanding access to treatment, strengthening care transitions, and reducing stigma associated with substance use disorders. The expanded program is scheduled to officially begin on June 1, 2026.
Through this initiative, MHSI will enhance its opioid abatement efforts by integrating expanded MOUD services—including medications such as buprenorphine —with warm hand‑off programs, additional staffing, staff education, and stigma‑reduction initiatives. These medications are nationally recognized as the gold standard for treating opioid use disorder and significantly reduce overdose risk.
To support expanded access, MHSI will dedicate new clinical space and recruit additional staff, including:
- A Community Health Worker who will function as a Peer Recovery Specialist, providing lived‑experience support and care navigation
- An additional therapist to provide individualized behavioral health treatment and support
A core component of the program is the warm hand‑off model, which directly connects patients from primary care settings to addiction treatment services through in‑person transitions. This approach significantly improves treatment engagement and continuity of care. MHSI will designate space for immediate assessments and utilize community health workers and case managers to support patients during these critical transitions—an approach shown to increase treatment initiation and reduce repeat overdoses.
In addition, MHSI staff will receive ongoing training to ensure the delivery of compassionate, evidence‑based care. Emphasis will be placed on stigma reduction and trauma‑informed practices, which research shows improves patient trust, retention, and overall outcomes.
“Through this funding, we are expanding services that save lives,” said Brittney Hensley, APRN of Mainline Health Systems, Inc. “By combining medication, supportive care, strong clinical transitions, and community‑based recovery support, we are addressing opioid use disorder in a way that is measurable, sustainable, and grounded in proven best practices.”
Mainline Health Systems extends sincere appreciation to ARORP and its partners for their investment in community health and encourages local leaders, stakeholders, and community members to remain engaged as the program launches and expands.
About Mainline Health Systems
Since 1978, Mainline Health Systems has served the residents of Southeast Arkansas with a compassionate approach and a commitment to the highest standard of medical, dental, and behavioral health care. From its first office in Portland all those years ago, Mainline Health Systems has grown to 28 locations across Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Cleveland, Columbia, Drew, Grant, Lincoln, and Pulaski counties. To learn more about Mainline Health Systems Inc., visit https://www.mainlinehealth.net/
About the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership
The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership (ARORP), an initiative of the Arkansas Municipal League and the Association of Arkansas Counties, represents an unprecedented, united front between the representatives of local government to abate the loss of life caused by the opioid epidemic in Arkansas communities. The Partnership oversees the strategic disbursement of opioid settlement dollars at the city and county levels and works to reduce overdose deaths through prevention, treatment, enforcement and recovery. ARORP’s message is simple: be bold, stand together and commit to abating opioid misuse and addiction in Arkansas. To learn more, visit https://www.arorp.org/
