Good afternoon!

We’re sure many felt confused about the Office of Management and Budget memo released on Tuesday evening. We wanted to share what we know so far. This memo had two prongs: a comprehensive analysis of all of the Federal Agency’s financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders AND a temporary pause on all agency grants, loans, or other financial assistance programs during this review period. It’s important to note that individual assistance programs such as Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, federal student loans, Pell Grants, Head Start, Section 8 rental assistance, and aid to small businesses and farmers should not be impacted. After some lawsuits appeared, a federal judge issued an administrative stay pausing the funding freeze and set a hearing for Monday at 11am. Since this administrative stay, another memo was released saying the original memo was rescinded; however, the White House office clarified that the initiative to pause federal funding was still in effect. 

AOR understands how this can be confusing, especially for our partners receiving federal funding such as State Opioid Response (SOR) grant. We’re hoping to get more clarity after Monday’s hearing and will be sure to share information as we see it. We encourage you to read the notes from our special Appalachian Partnership Consortium (APC) call and sign up here for our next APC on February 10th to continue the conversation. 

It is important to note that this memo shouldn’t impact opioid settlement payments as they are lawsuit dollars, not federal funds. This being said, let’s hop into our opioid settlement updates. 

New York

The New York City Health Department plans to allocate $3 million toward services on Staten Island and expand the Relay program, a hospital-based initiative assisting individuals who have survived nonfatal overdoses, to two more emergency departments, bringing the total to 17 citywide. Funding will also support the expansion of methadone and buprenorphine treatment programs, as well as recovery services.

Ohio

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation awarded $780,000 in grants to six projects.

• Region 3 – Care Alliance – Medication Assisted Therapy Funding for Non-Insured Patients – Treatment and Healthcare Services – $30,000
• Region 8 – Unite Us – A Collaborative Coordinated Approach to Supporting Communities Impacted by Substance Use Disorder in Montgomery County – Intervention and Crisis Support – $193,250
• Region 12 – Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department – Peer Recovery Support Program – Recovery Supports – $105,184
• Region 15 – Samaritan Works Inc – Expansion of Housing – Recovery Supports – $250,000
• Region 17 – OhioGuidestone – SUD Services Training in Wood County and Hancock County – Workforce – $22,000
• Region 18 – Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction – Medication Assisted Treatment on Release Pilot – Criminal Legal System – $179,961.47

Pennsylvania

News reports that Allegheny County retained Biobot Analytics for $47,000 yearly in settlement funds for wastewater surveillance and developing a data dashboard. The county intends to continue its partnership with Biobot and plans to make the data publicly available.

Butler County Commissioners allocated settlement funds to several programs and organizations:

• BC3 received $92,000 to operate the Hope is Dope program and $51,212 for the Personal Empowerment Initiative through June 30.
• The Center for Community Resources was awarded $71,883 to fund a housing coordinator position and a reintegration apartment program.
• The Nonprofit Development Corporation received $393,200 to operate the recovery center.
• Recovery Empower Institute LLC was awarded $103,195 to run the LIFE Medication-Assisted Treatment Support Group.
• Butler Ambulance Service, East Butler Volunteer Fire Company Ambulance Service, and Quality EMS will share $25,000 for the EMS Opioid Treatment Incentive program.

South Carolina

The South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund (SCORF) Board will join Coffee Chat via Zoom on Friday, February 7, at 9:30am. The board will accept public comments by email or through video or audio over Zoom. Pre-registration is required. SCORF will hold public comment sessions four times a year. For registration and guidelines, visit SCORF Coffee Chat.

Tennessee

The Anderson County Opioid Settlement Committee will hold meetings at 4pm on Tuesday, February 4, and Thursday, February 13, in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. The sessions will focus on discussion and reviewing applications from community organizations. The public may attend, though it is unclear if there will be an opportunity for public comment or input. 

The Coffee County Commission formed an Opioid Abatement Committee to disperse settlement funds. Manchester City Schools Director of School Health Leslie Brasfield, Judge Robert Carter, Unity Hospital CEO Martha Henley, Public Defender Investigator Lee Nettles, and Commissioner Rose Ann Smith are appointed to the committee for its inaugural term.

Anderson County, Tennessee — application info. (DUE 1/31)

Orange County, North Carolina — application info. (DUE 2/21)

Weirton, West Virginia — application info. (“[f]unding decisions are made by the Weirton City Council”)

Alabama

Oversight Commission on Settlement Funds

• TBD
• In-person in Montgomery, AL
• Can watch live on their website (choose ‘Room 200’ for location then ‘Oversight Commission on Alabama Opioid Settlement Funds’ for meeting)

You can also watch livestreams and recordings on The Alabama Channel (thanks to the League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund)

Georgia

Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission 

• TBD (late February or early March 2025)

Kentucky

Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (info here)

• Business Meeting: March, 11 2025, 1pm EST
• In-person located in Frankfort, KY and attendees can give public comment
• Can watch live and recordings on their YouTube channel
• Prevention/Reform/Compliance Subcommittee Meeting: TBD
• In-person located in Frankfort, KY
• Treatment & Recovery Subcommittee meeting: TBD
• In-person located in Frankfort, KY

Maryland

Opioid Restitution Fund Advisory Council (info here)

• TBD
• Meetings are all-virtual. Can watch live via Google Meet & there is usually an opportunity for public comment

New York

Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board (info here)

• TBD
• In-person located in Albany, and attendees can give public comment
• Can watch live and recordings on their website

Monthly ‘Community’ meeting: 4th Wednesday of the month at 12pm

• See this page under ‘Community Input’

Ohio

OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board (info here)

• Full Board Meeting: February 12 2025, 10:30am EST
• In-person meetings are located in Columbus and are open to the public, but there is usually no opportunity for public comment
• Can watch live and recordings on their website
• Audit & Finance Committee: TBD
• Executive Committee: TBD
• Grant Oversight Committee: TBD
• Personnel Committee: TBD
• Investment Committee: TBD

Regional Information Sessions (see events calendar for most up-to-date info)

• TBD

Pennsylvania

Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust (meeting info here)

• Board of Trustees Meeting: February 13, 2025 1:30pm EST
• In-person located in Harrisburg
• All are virtual and can be watched live via Zoom and recordings on YouTube 

South Carolina

Opioid Recovery Fund

• SCORF Board Meeting: March 5, 2025, 10:00am EST (info here)
• Coffee Chat: February 7, 2025, 9:30am EST virtual
• This is held the first Friday of the month and is an opportunity to ask questions and hear announcements about opioid settlement funds
• The SCORF Board will open to public comment during Coffee Chat on February 7, May 2, August 1, and November 7. Advanced registration is required to comment. (info here).

Tennessee

Opioid Abatement Council

• Meeting: March 3, 2025 12pm EST (info here)
• Next in-person located in Chattanooga, TN. Meetings are also available to watch via Teams – All attendees can give public comment
• Recordings and meeting minutes are available on their website

Virginia

Opioid Abatement Authority (meeting info here)

• Grants Committee: TBD (info here)
• Finance Committee: TBD
• Board Meeting: TBD

West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation, Inc. (meeting info here)

• Board of Directors meeting: March 2025 TBD
• Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month