When someone in El Dorado County needs addiction treatment, help will be just a call or text away.
CA Bridge Connect, a CA Bridge program funded by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), will launch on April 14 in El Dorado County. The hotline will offer same-day connections to low-barrier medications for addiction treatment (MAT) and other support through Behavioral Health Navigators who meet people where they are — no judgment, no waitlists, just compassionate connection to care.
Starting April 14, the hotline will be open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm PST to callers in El Dorado, with other counties across California soon to be added. Once a CA Bridge-trained Navigator understands a caller’s needs, location, and preferences, they will find a provider in the CA Bridge network – which includes clinics, emergency departments, hospitals, telemedicine providers, and street medicine teams – to connect the caller to care and the resources they need.
Overdose is the leading cause of death for Californians aged 15-44 — yet nearly 90% of people living with opioid use disorder (OUD) lack access to the medications that could save their lives. Fragmented systems, stigma, and long wait times prevent people from getting the help they need, and many struggling with OUD don’t know where to turn to access compassionate care. That’s why real people answer every CA Bridge Connect call or text.
Navigators have extensive knowledge of the local addiction care landscape and the barriers people often face when seeking treatment. Their support ensures that those barriers aren’t the reason someone doesn’t start treatment in their moment of need.
Meet Katie, CA Bridge Connect’s lead Navigator, who’s answering those calls and texts, and transforming them into paths forward.
Q: Katie, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what brought you to this work?
A: I’ve been helping people in California who use drugs seek support for the past eight years. I’ve done work on the ground within syringe service programs, community health clinics, and emergency departments, as well as naloxone and overdose response education. When I’m not at work, I enjoy going to concerts, watching sci-fi movies, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with my dog, husband, and friends.
One of the most important reasons I stay in this line of work is because of my close family and friends who struggle with drug and alcohol use. I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to have access to safety and stability when you’re using, and how hard it can be to make positive changes without support. I aim to be a support system for folks who find themselves wanting help but don’t know where to go or who to talk to.
Q: Walk us through what happens when someone calls or texts the hotline. What’s that first conversation like?
A: The first conversation we have will be over the phone, whether you initially call or text in. I’ll introduce myself and get some basic information from you, like your first name, ZIP code, preferred health insurance, best way to stay in contact, and what type of support you’re looking for. I’ll also answer any questions you might have about starting MAT. From there, we’ll explore options in your area that meet your needs.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of being a Navigator?
A: The most rewarding part of navigating people to overcome barriers is seeing what happens afterward. I’ve seen what MAT can do to help lift people out of harmful cycles, give them stability and clarity, and allow them to pursue what is really important to them. My favorite thing is getting messages from my former patients telling me their wins – whether that’s celebrating a recovery milestone, making progress in a child custody case, or successfully reversing an overdose with naloxone they accessed with my help. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I played a role in those positive changes.
Q: What barriers do people in El Dorado County face in seeking treatment, and how does CA Bridge Connect aim to help overcome them – and importantly, why is El Dorado the first county the program is launching in?
A: People who use drugs face stigma, which is a major factor behind why overdose prevention programs are limited in El Dorado County and throughout the country. Accessibility is another major challenge. Navigating healthcare systems to access treatment can be daunting, and program requirements for entry can be tall, seemingly insurmountable barriers.
My job is to break down those barriers and make accessing MAT and other resources as easy as possible. CA Bridge Connect links callers to providers in our network who are ready to offer support, understand the importance of urgency, and want to guide people to care compassionately. When someone calls into CA Bridge Connect, we want them to feel welcome — that they are a part of our community, and that we’re not giving up on them.
We are launching in El Dorado because CA Bridge has established strong clinical partnerships there. A foundation of committed providers ready to remove barriers to care made it the ideal place to start this program.
Q: If you could say one thing to someone who’s thinking about reaching out to the hotline but is hesitant, what would it be?
A: Even if you’re unsure about what you want or where you are in your treatment journey, you can call CA Bridge Connect. There is a real person on the end of the line – not an automation – available to chat about your options for treatment and support in your area. And, if you’re not set on starting treatment that day, that’s okay! Curiosity and questions are welcome. It’s my job to find options and open doors for you. You get to lead the way.
Q: What does success look like for you as CA Bridge Connect launches in El Dorado?
A: To me, success looks like getting people what they need. Our overall goal is to reduce overdose deaths in California by creating easier pathways to treatment and prevention. In El Dorado County, this looks like connecting participants to local resources – information, county-based Navigators, outpatient MAT clinics, and safer use supplies offered by community partners. I’m so grateful for our local providers and Navigators in the county who are ready to support participants from our hotline. We couldn’t do this without them.
Q: How can community members or providers in El Dorado County get involved or support this work?
If you live in El Dorado County and want to support CA Bridge Connect, you can start by supporting positive changes in your immediate community. If there’s someone in your life who uses drugs or alcohol, be a safe space for them to talk about it.
On a bigger scale: get the word out! When you see CA Bridge Connect materials in your community, save our hotline numbers to your phone, bookmark our website when it launches on April 14, and let people know that treatment IS accessible.
If you’re a medical provider, county representative, or addiction medicine professional in El Dorado County who wants to be involved in CA Bridge Connect – or are located elsewhere in California and want to get involved when we launch in your county in the future – email info@cabridgeconnect.org to learn more about the technical assistance and resources we offer.
Most importantly, if you’re seeking addiction treatment support, you can call or text CA Bridge Connect or visit the CA Bridge Connect website at www.cabridgeconnect.org when it – and the hotline – go live on April 14.
Additional Resources:
Learn more about training on overdose response and access free naloxone in El Dorado County via the El Dorado County Coalition for Overdose Prevention and Education (COPE).
If you’re outside of El Dorado County, use this website to find naloxone near you.