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Restaurant Accolade Program recognizes High 5 Hospitality

Program provides training to address substance-use disorder
December 9, 2022

The Delaware Division of Public Health recognized High 5 Hospitality as the first hospitality group in Delaware to have all its restaurants achieve the Bronze Fork award as part of the Restaurant Accolade Program.

High 5 Hospitality restaurants include Buffalo Wild Wings, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Eggspectation, Limestone BBQ and the Stone Balloon, with a total of 15 locations.

Initiated by DPH’s Office of Health Crisis Response in March 2022, the Restaurant Accolade Program has successfully trained management and staff at 66 restaurants to address substance-use disorder. The program teaches staff in the food service industry how to respond to an opioid overdose and helps restaurants create policies and workplace environments to support employees and patrons struggling with substance-use disorder. Restaurants are among the industries whose workforce has had a high incidence of overdose.

All are now Bronze Fork awardees. The next levels of certification are the Silver and Gold Forks.

“We are proud of our leaders and team members for being the first hospitality group to achieve the Bronze Fork award for all our locations,” said Lori Ewald, High 5 Hospitality director of human resources and marketing. “Our teams were very responsive to the training, and we are looking forward to achieving the next level. This training has helped our team members gain an increased awareness of the opioid crisis and provided them with tools to save a life. When people ask why we participate in this program, my response is simple – why wouldn't we?”

Almost 400 Delaware restaurant employees have undergone training to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. Staff and restaurants were also given Narcan kits to use and keep on site. The Restaurant Accolade Program is one of OHCR's initiatives aimed at reducing drug overdoses and substance-use disorders across the state, while working to combat the stigma often associated with substance-use disorder.

“We recognize it is vital to meet individuals in the communities and spaces where they live, work and play and we appreciate all the restaurants that have partnered with us in this program” said Kate Brookins, OHCR director. “We are dedicated to providing support to restaurants and their patrons and staff in our fight to combat overdoses and addiction.”

For more information or to schedule training, restaurant representatives may email OHCR@delaware.gov.

If a loved one is struggling with addiction in Delaware, call the DHSS 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 1-800-345-6785 to be connected to treatment and recovery options in Sussex and Kent counties.

For free 24/7 counseling, coaching and support, as well as links to mental health, addiction and crisis services call the Delaware Hope Line at 1-833-9-HOPEDE. To search for treatment and recovery services in Delaware or nearby states, go to HelpIsHereDE.com.

 

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