About Us
Who We are
The Rural Response Network (RRN) is a consortium of individuals and organizations who serve and/or live, work and play in the communities of Oberlin and Wellington, Lagrange, Grafton and surrounding rural townships.
The goals are to empower rural communities in southern Lorain County to engage and support residents with mental health and substance use disorders through outreach, education, and strategic partnerships and to enhance health and well-being through specialized support and education.
- Empower rural communities to engage and support residents through outreach, education and strategic partnerships
- Enhance health and well-being through specialized support and education
Reduce Overdoses
Promote Rx Medication Safety
Increase Community Education about Substance Use Disorders
Decrease Stigma
Expand Access to Care
Strengthen Prevention, Treatment & Recovery Support Services
Rural Response Network is composed of nine core members and many additional partners who assist with planning, implementation and community education. Riveon Mental Health and Recovery (formerly The LCADA Way and The Nord Center)is the lead agency with partners including the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County, Lorain County Public Health, The Road to Hope, LINC (Local Initiative to Network Compassion), Oberlin Community Services, Let’s Get Real, Oberlin Police Department and Wellington police Department.
Other members include Wellington and Oberlin public school districts, THRIVE! Southern Lorain County, Main Street Wellington, Oberlin Business Partnership, Salvation Army Service Units in Wellington and Oberlin, Lorain County Community College Wellington Center, Mercy Health, Oberlin College, the City of Oberlin, New Care Behavioral Health, Lorain County Urban League, Herrick Memorial Library, and the Oberlin Public Library.
Goals
- Reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance abuse disorder and opioid use disorder for vulnerable populations that historically suffer from poorer health outcomes: Low-income, unemployed men and women, Black/African Americans and Hispanic/Latino men, women, youth and young adults, and individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
- Decrease barriers and improve care and coordination for individuals who seek and are in need of SUD/OUD prevention, treatment and recovery services.
- Increase the number of direct access points for SUD/OUD treatment and recovery support services, including for underinsured and uninsured individuals, in Oberlin, Wellington and surrounding rural township
- Increase community awareness and education of substance use and mental health disorders and reduce stigma
- Increase the security and safe disposal of prescription medications through education and the distribution of medication safety bags and Medication Disposal System Pouches
- Minimize the harmful effects of illicit drug use and decrease the chance of overdose through education on fentanyl and the distribution of test strips and Naloxone (Narcan)
The Rural Response Network (RRN) was created through a three-year federal Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) grant to strengthen Oberlin, Wellington, and surrounding rural townships’ ability to support residents with substance use and mental health disorders, improve access to services, and share resources. Grounded in grassroots collaboration and local strengths, RRN works to reduce overdose risk, increase community education, and address barriers to care for underserved rural populations.
As of February 1, 2026, RRN funding has been provided by the Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County, expanding the reach to include Grafton, LaGrange, and additional rural townships in southern Lorain County, providing community education on substance use and mental health disorders and services, and connecting residents with resources.
Documents and Project Resources
Rural Response Network Overview
RRN Progress Report Y1P1
RRM Progress Report Y1P2
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