Innovative community-driven programs sought to address substance use disorders
The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, in collaboration with the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs (HCCOAOD), has opened a Request for Funding (RFF) for the National Opioid Settlement Grant Program. This initiative aims to provide support for evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other services related to substance use disorders.
The State of Indiana will receive $507 million as a part of the $26 billion national settlement with Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – and Johnson & Johnson, which manufactured and marketed opioids. Hamilton County will receive a total of $10,261,773.96 in annual allocations through 2038.
County Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt emphasized the importance of community collaboration, stating, “We’re hopeful these grant dollars will allow us to break out of the ineffective silos we’ve been working in for so long and encourage our community to work collaboratively toward a community-driven response to substance use disorders.”
Greer
Heirbrandt
The HCCOAOD and its nine-member Board of Directors will oversee the community grant award process. Executive Director Monica Greer offered these tips to interested applicants:
“The settlement is giving us some freedom to choose new ideas without the similar restraints we’re accustomed to, so we encourage organizations to bring forth innovative proposals that will make a lasting impact. We look forward to reviewing proposals that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a sustainable impact beyond the funding period.”
There will be two rounds of funding. Submissions for the first round are due at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23. Awards will be announced on Friday, March 22. Projects must run from Monday, April 1, 2024, through Monday, March 31, 2025. Proposals for the second round of funding will be due at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23. Awards will be announced Friday, Sept. 20. Projects must run from Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, through Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
The HCCOAOD Board will evaluate proposals based on the criteria outlined in the RFF, with final funding decisions made by the Board of Commissioners. Award recipients do not need to be located in Hamilton County, but all services funded by the grants must be provided in Hamilton County. All award recipients are required to submit quarterly program outcome reports until project completion. Funding will be distributed on a reimbursement basis.
Interested organizations should submit proposals to Monica Greer at monica.greer@hamiltoncounty.in.gov. The subject line of the email should read “Hamilton County Opioid Settlement RFF.”