Anchor IMPACT is a program by New Direction Health Care Solutions, Inc., supported by a 2024 grant from the Knox County Opioid Settlement Funds. These funds are allocated to projects aimed at remediating, preventing, and educating the community about substance abuse and misuse. The program’s goal is to combat the opioid epidemic by providing essential resources to the community. The funding is generated through the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Trust Fund and legal settlements with pharmaceutical companies. Anchor IMPACT is a collaborative effort involving New Direction and its three key partners: Covenant Counseling and Consultative Services, a mental health counseling provider; A-1 Learning Connection, an innovative educational program designed to strengthen students’ learning skills and engage families in their children’s success pathways; and Denise Jackson, Ph.D., a professional consultant specializing in process improvement and organizational development/management. Together, these organizations are addressing the opioid crisis in the East Knoxville community, with a focus on ensuring the inclusion of marginalized communities, particularly people of color.

• RECOVERY SUPPORT by facilitating access to support services and providing counseling.
• EDUCATION AND TRAINING through programs to empower community support groups and families to make informed decisions, enhance skills, and develop effective strategies to prevent opioid misuse and improve overall public health in our communities.
• PRIMARY PREVENTION by aiming to educate and support individuals and families to prevent the misuse of drugs and for the development of substance use disorders.
• HARM REDUCTION with strategies that prioritize the safety, health, and well-being of individuals affected by opioid use.
• TREATMENT by implementing an intensive outpatient treatment model in which clients participate in an alcohol and drug assessment and therapy sessions as needed.