The Cecil County Prevention and Overdose Response Team (PORT) is part of coordinated response to overdose in Cecil County. The team consists of the PORT Coordinator from the Department of Emergency Services, with funding and coordination oversight provided by the Department of Community Services.

Alongside partners from the Cecil County Health Department and Voices of Hope, PORT provides outreach and support to individuals who have experienced an overdose and to their families. By assessing needs and providing services to the overdose victim AND their family members, the team utilizes a two-generation strategy to reduce substance use disorder (SUD) and childhood trauma. PORT also provides outreach to families who have lost a loved one to a fatal overdose, providing them with support and connecting them to needed resources.

This program relies on strong partnerships with a variety of organizations throughout Cecil County, and the PORT team convenes bi-monthly meetings to coordinate efforts with Voices of Hope, Cecil County Health Department, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, Cecil County Public Schools, and many others. The PORT team is supported by funding from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) through the Cecil County Local Management Board and from the Bureau of Justice Assistance through the Comprehensive Opioid and Stimulant Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP).