What Data Show About Opioid Response in Rural New England
Abt Global joins the New England Rural Health Association (NERHA) 2026 Annual Conference, November 17-18 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, New Hampshire. On Wednesday, November 18, Abt evaluator Julia Higgins presents findings from the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP).
RCORP has funded 875 rural communities nationwide to reduce barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, including treatment for opioid use disorder. Abt evaluates the program for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Our team measures how RCORP activities expand access to SUD services, strengthen local capacity, and sustain care over time. The findings guide targeted technical assistance and inform how HRSA shapes future RCORP opportunities.
Join our session on Wednesday, November 18, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. Come with questions about the data, the grantees, and the next steps for rural behavioral health programs in your state.
Abt brings the same evidence-first approach to rural health and behavioral health work across federal programs. Explore our RCORP evaluation and related projects below.
Meet Our Presenter at NERHA 2026
Highlights and Opportunities for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program in Rural New England
November 18 | 2:00-3:00 pm
- Julia Higgins - Evaluator
Abt Global's Julia Higgins and Lavonia Smith LeBbeau, Deputy Evaluation Director at CVP, trace RCORP activity across the region. They will also present alongside Kameshwari Aysola, HRSA’s Program Coordinator, sharing analysis of behavioral health monitoring data and spotlighting the work of current New England grantees across RCORP cohorts. Attendees see what RCORP looks like on the ground in rural New England and where opportunities remain.
Resources
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) Evaluation
Abt supports HRSA’s rural opioid response by evaluating RCORP grants, strengthening reporting quality, and guiding targeted support for communities.
Evaluating Maternal Opioid Misuse Initiative
The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women and the incidence of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) due to in-utero exposure to opioids have soared over the past two decades. The prevalence of NOWS among infants enrolled in…
Spotlight on: Rural Health Transformation
Abt helps states transform rural health systems by aligning data, policy, and care delivery to expand access and support long-term sustainability.
Spotlight On: Linking Recovery and Employment Services to Address the Opioid Epidemic
