More than 1 million people have died in the United States from drug overdoses since 1991. Countless campaigns have been launched to combat the epidemic, but how do researchers determine whether these community collaborative initiatives are effective?
Cordata’s Operation 2 Save Lives (O2SL) & QRT National has developed a tool to help gauge the effectiveness of life-saving efforts.
An article detailing Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National’s development of the tool, which complements the Capability Maturity Model (CMM), has been published in the Journal for Community Safety & Well-Being.
The article published on March 20, 2025, titled “The creation and application of the Project Management Adherence Tool (PMAT) in understanding and advancing deflection programs and other community-based initiatives,” was written by Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National’s Senior Community Engagement Leaders Daniel P. Meloy, Mike Botieri and Scott Allen, and their colleague, Primary Research Investigator Dr. Carol Gregory, a subject matter expert for O2SL and QRT National.
O2SL & QRT National has created an instrument, the PMAT, in order to “better understand the state of complex, collaborative community-based programs that address substance use disorders (SUDs), opioid use disorders (OUDs), mental health disorders, community safety and well-being, and fatal overdoses in the United States.”
“The opioid overdose crisis in the United States has given rise to innovative solutions to address behavioural health problems in communities,” the article’s abstract begins. “These complex initiatives vary greatly, making it difficult to understand what makes them successful and where their gaps and needs are, which impairs the ability to know how to best apply resources.”
The journal article explores the creation and application of the PMAT, and its use in understanding and advancing deflection programs and other community-based initiatives.
“This is a basic tool that we implement in everything we do,” said Senior Community Engagement Leader Meloy. “It allows us to speed up our understanding of a new or existing site, along with the data. It speeds up our ability to create, enhance or work in partnerships.”
The implementation of the PMAT represents an innovative shift in employing this model outside of industries like engineering, business, and software development, but within community-based initiatives aiming to address behavioural health issues.
“This article validates the work we’re doing, via outside peer review (the Journal is peer-reviewed and an open-access publication that is positioned to be the authoritative global resource for high-impact research),” said Senior Community Engagement Leader Allen.
The PMAT’s primary purpose is to create structured communication within and between geographically dispersed, multifaceted initiatives united by common goals and funding streams, but with great operational diversity.
Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National is a collaboration of public safety, public health, peers and community leaders. Its mission is to help create and support collaborative, community-shared responses for municipalities, counties, and states in assisting vulnerable populations impacted directly and indirectly by substance use, mental health disorders, and behavioral health issues.
Cordata’s O2SL & QRT National’s team of Lesson Learned Experts (LLE) provides executive briefings, mentorship and training. Cordata Community connects community responses to a new recovery ecosystem through its leading platform, empowering addiction and mental health deflection, diversion programs, and enhancing community safety. They’ve built a team of experienced executives in public safety, public health, and community leaders.
“We are pleased that our research has been highlighted in the Journal for Community Safety & Wellbeing,” said Primary Research Investigator Dr. Gregory. “A lot of hard work goes into this process. It’s affirming to be published in a well-respected, peer-reviewed publication.”
O2SL & QRT National was founded by three police chiefs — Allen, Botieri, and Meloy, and was acquired in June of 2024 by long-standing partner Cordata Healthcare Innovations, Inc. — who collectively saw success in bringing public safety, public health, and communities together to improve community safety, see positive reductions in fatal and non-fatal overdoses, and increased engagements in connecting vulnerable persons and families to treatment, resources, and care.
The trio wanted to share their experience and success with others, so they took the lessons they learned in their public safety careers to municipalities, counties, and states, to aid and assist vulnerable populations impacted directly and indirectly by the addiction and behavioral health epidemics.
“Across the board, we have seen positive impacts in the overdose crisis, while helping individuals and families on a pathway to improved community safety and wellbeing,” said Senior Community Engagement Leader Botieri. “The tool is part of Cordata’s comprehensive cadre of community services, enhancing outreach, support, and recovery efforts.”
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