About RODA

From 2008 to 2016, Riverside County had been experiencing a steady increase in the number of overdose deaths; however, in 2017, overdose deaths and rates began to increase significantly. This rapid rise in overdoses can be attributed to synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, and methamphetamine addiction. RODA was established in 2019, to counter the rapid rise of overdoses, using enhanced surveillance data to guide overdose prevention efforts. 

Since the launch of the program, notable successes include establishing monthly mortality surveillance reports, an interactive countywide overdose data dashboard, a multi-disciplinary overdose fatality review team, public health nursing case management for substance use, youth overdose prevention training, bystander naloxone training, and much more. Click here to learn more about RODA's activities and collaborations.

Meet the Team 

Wendy Hetherington	She/Her Program Chief Wendy Hetherington is the Branch Chief of Epidemiology & Program Evaluation. She oversees the Epidemiology Data Team, Vital Records, Riverside Overdose Data to Action (RODA), Health Equity, and Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC). Wendy is a trained epidemiologist earning her Master’s in Public Health at San Diego State. She has a wide variety of experience and is particularly focused on incorporating health equity in all public health programs, promoting data to action, and increasing overdose awareness and prevention in Riverside County.
Jessica Cuevas	She/Her Program Director Jessica Cuevas is a Program Director with the Riverside County Department of Public Health’s Epidemiology and Program Evaluation branch. She is responsible for the planning and implementation of the Riverside County Overdose Data to Action (RODA) program, a community health improvement effort formed to enhance surveillance of overdose morbidity and mortality and to create more responsive and collaborative prevention efforts to address the upstream causes of substance use disorders and overdose. With over 10 years of experience in Behavioral and Public Health programs, her efforts have focused on mental health education and overdose prevention, which includes many campaigns within the community to promote mental health awareness and public safety.
Andrew Jimenez	He/Him Program Coordinator II Andrew Jimenez is a Program Coordinator II for the Riverside Overdose Data to Action (RODA) Program and is responsible for integrating local overdose prevention efforts through data dissemination, community collaboration, and strategic planning. He coordinates and facilitates Overdose Fatality Review meetings to identify system gaps and innovative community-specific overdose prevention and intervention strategies. Andrew has over eight years of Public Health experience working on a variety of prevention programs and initiatives. Andrew has a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Health Promotion, Education, and Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®).
Toni Harris	She/Her Program Coordinator II Toni Harris is a Program Coordinator II with the Riverside County Department of Public Health - Epidemiology and Program Evaluation branch. She currently serves as the Prevention Lead for the Riverside Overdose Data to Action Program, which serves to enhance the surveillance of overdoses in Riverside County and uses the enhanced data to guide overdose prevention efforts. She has worked in the fields of substance use as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and in Behavioral Health for 14 years. Toni received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of La Verne. Toni continues to work towards encouraging compassionate engagement in our communities.
Aaron Gardner	He/Him Senior Epidemiologist Aaron Gardner has been with Riverside University Health System – Public Health since 2005. Aaron has extensive experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis, and communication, with a particular focus on health equity and social justice issues. He has been a project lead on HIV surveillance studies, program evaluation, grant writing, and LGBTQ health.
Iman Abouazra	She/Her Research Specialist II Iman Abouazra is a Research Specialist II for the County of Riverside Department of Public Health- Epidemiology and Program Evaluation branch. She is the current Surveillance Lead for Riverside County Overdose Data to Action Program, responsible for surveillance data dissemination, and oversees the response strategy for potential outbreaks. Iman received her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health and Epidemiology from Loma Linda University and has since worked within the fields of Behavioral and Public Health.

For questions, comments, or more information, contact the RODA team at [email protected]

RODA Activities & Partners

• Addressing overdoses is very complex because many underlying issues are associated with drug use. Effective overdose prevention requires a multi-disciplinary approach, strong and invested collaboration, data sharing, linkages to care, data-driven evidence-based practices, which include youth and harm reduction education, and coordinating efforts to prevent new addictions, manage and treat existing addictions, and prevent overdose deaths.
• Activities:
  • SURVEILLANCE:
    • Monthly Surveillance Reports – RUHS – Public Health, REMSA, and the Sheriff-Coroner’s Bureau produce and disseminate an overdose morbidity and mortality monthly surveillance report to local and state partners increasing access to timely and actionable surveillance data.
    • Overdose Outbreak Surveillance & Response Alert System – RUHS – Public Health, REMSA, and the Sheriff-Coroner’s Bureau are implementing an overdose outbreak alert system for detecting drug overdose outbreaks in less than 72 hours by rapidly analyzing REMSA, ESSENCE, and enhanced mortality surveillance data and alerting RUHS – Public Health leadership and partners to inform the public and mobilize resources.
    • RODA Overdose Prevention Strategic Plan – The Overdose Strategic Plan is being developed with significant community/partner input. This plan will inform all substance use prevention activities within RUHS—Public Health and will inform the agency’s overall strategic plan.
    • California’s first Overdose Fatality Review – The Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) team investigates the circumstances and events leading up to an individual’s death, particularly the systems that the individual came into contact with throughout their life, to identify system level and policy changes that will prevent future overdose deaths.
    • Overdose Data Dashboard – The GIS-driven Overdose Data Dashboard (ODD) displays data on fatal overdoses, opioid-related emergency department visits, and opioid-related calls to poison control. Data displayed on maps are based on census tracts and interactive to allow the user to view more detail when a census tract is selected. Demographic data (when available) such as sex/gender, age, and race/ethnicity, are also displayed on the dashboard.
  • LINKAGES TO CARE:
    • Case management services provided by Public Health Nursing - participating partners refer eligible clients to the Public Health Nurse (PHN) for case management. The PHN assesses and works closely with case-managed clients to connect them with the services they need.
    • Healthy Families America – RUHS- Public Health’s Maternal, Child, and Adolescent (MCAH) branch implements the Healthy Families America (HFA) program for pregnant or post-partum women who have a history and/or high risk of opioid/substance use disorder and/or mental health disorders. HFA is an evidenced-based case management program that is family-focused and provides wraparound services to the mother and family. Community Assessment and Transport Team (CATT) Program – Pairs a Licensed Clinical Therapist (RUHS – BH) with an EMT (AMR) to respond to people in crisis in a non-emergency vehicle in the City of Hemet. The goal is to better serve patients coping with behavioral health and substance use-related incidents through on-scene assessment and more appropriate resource referral, including transportation to mental health facilities, sobering centers, shelters, etc. Refer to their flyer for more information about the program.
  • EDUCATION AND HARM REDUCTION:
    • Harm Reduction education and supplies - RODA partners (including but not limited to Inland Empire Harm Reduction, RUHS - BH, RUHS - PH) will support and implement bystander naloxone education for community members and partners who provide services to under-resourced populations. Specific populations include individuals who are formerly incarcerated, experiencing homelessness, and pregnant or postpartum women.
    • Academic Detailing - Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) - Clinical Pharmacy Programs will use academic detailing while leveraging other techniques, including harm reduction, to increase the use of non-opioid medications, decrease high-risk opioid prescribing, and increase the number of X-waivers among clinicians.
    • Overdose Awareness and Prevention Program (OAPP) – Implementation of a youth-based curriculum, risk-screening, and referral process for overdose prevention in middle and high schools in Riverside County. At-risk students are referred to Behavioral Health Specialists or counselors on campus.
    • EMS Naloxone Leave Behind Program - Implemented by Riverside Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMS), EMS provides individuals and/or families of individuals who experienced an overdose with Naloxone, education on how to recognize and respond to an overdose using Naloxone, and harm reduction resources.
  • Partners and Collaborations:
    • California Department of Public Health
    • El Sol Neighborhood
    • End Overdose Inc.
    • Inland Empire Harm Reduction (IEHR)
    • Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)
    • Inland Empire Opioid Crisis Coalition (IEOCC)
    • Joint Regional Intelligence Center/Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
    • Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance (RPYA)
    • Riverside County Emergency Medical Services Agency
    • Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office
    • RUHS- Behavioral Health
    • Starting Over Inc.
    • Visión y Compromiso