Good afternoon!

We wanted to inform you of a recent issue affecting our communications. One of our team members had his email account compromised, resulting in a spam email about a proposal being sent to the AOR listserv. If you received this message, please disregard it and avoid opening any attachments or scanning any QR codes included. Our IT team has secured the account and is implementing additional safeguards to prevent this from happening again. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

Moving into our AOR updates, we’re featuring an important article by Aneri Pattani from KFF Health News titled “We Checked Up on the States That Promise Transparency on Opioid Settlement Funds.” Co-researched with Christine Minhee of OpioidSettlementTracker.com, the article investigates how well 12 states have upheld their promises of full transparency in reporting opioid settlement spending.

In our own work researching and cataloging how these funds are being allocated, we often find ourselves asking the same questions posed by Corey Davis of the Network for Public Health Law: “What does that mean? How exactly are you doing that?” We frequently encounter vague reports that make it challenging to understand the real impact on our communities. As Aneri’s article points out, reporting that a certain percentage of funds goes toward a category, like supporting people in treatment and recovery, is similar to saying, “20% of your monthly salary goes to food. But does that mean grocery bills, eating out at restaurants, or hiring a cook?” Without specifics, it’s challenging to see how these funds are being used.

Ohio

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation awarded nearly $2.9 million to 18 organizations across the state.

•    Region 2 – Cincinnati Health Network, Inc. dba NeighborHub Health – Street Medicine and Harm Reduction Services for Persons Experiencing Homelessness – Treatment and Healthcare Services – $485,000
•    Region 2 – Learning Grove – Cradle to Career Opioid Abatement Prevention Strategies for Hamilton County Families – Prevention – $193,795.71
•    Region 2 – Over-the-Rhine Community Housing – Addiction Recovery Services in Affordable Housing – Recovery Supports – $172,691
•    Region 2 – The First Step Home Inc. – Expanded Access and Admission to Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Women and their Children – Treatment and Healthcare Services – $355,482
•    Region 11 – City of Salem, Ohio – Salem Recovery Resource Hub – Recovery Supports – $388,600
•    Region 11 – Help Hotline Crisis Center, Inc. – Family Success Network, Special Population – Services for Impacted Children and Families – $127,600
•    Region 11 – Tuscarawas Co. Job and Family Services – The Prevention Bridge – Prevention – $319,747.53
• Region 11 – Holmes Co. General Health District – Harm Reduction and Prevention Holmes County through Naloxone – Harm Reduction – $40,000
•    Region 11 – Tuscarawas Co. Family and Children First Council – High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) –
•    Region 14 – City of Middletown – Middletown Outreach Expansion – Public Safety & First Responders – $76,330
•    Region 14 – Phoenix Place, Inc. – Expansion of Peer-Run Organization – Recovery Supports – $40,000
•    Region 16 – Paulding Co. Common Pleas Court – Recovery Housing for Paulding County Drug Court Participants – Criminal Legal System – $30,000
•    Region 17 – Ottawa Co. Department of Job and Family Services – Fresh Start II – Recovery Supports – $65,866
•    Region 19 – Alcohol, Drug, Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Erie Co. Erie County Youth Resilience Project – Prevention – $81,538.41
•    Region 19 – Hope Recovery Community, Inc. – Level I Hope Recovery Housing Expansion Recovery Supports – $151,000
•    Region 19 – Hope Recovery Community, Inc. – Hope Recovery Community Diversity Program Services Expansion – Recovery Supports – $120,000
•    Region 19 – Huron Co. Juvenile Court – Huron County Family Dependency Treatment Court Incentives – Criminal Legal System – $10,000
•    Region 19 – OneEighty, Inc. – Partnership for a Drug Free Wayne County – Prevention – $95,000

Seneca County Commissioners allocated $127,166.65 of settlement fund to PIVOT drug court program. PIVOT stands for “Participating in Victory Transition” is a alternative sentencing program aka a drug court. Participants will frequently check in with Judges to evaluate progress, participation, and achievements.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has announced the availability of up to $2.2 million in funding, sourced from the Mallinckrodt settlement, to support the implementation of community-based prevention services across the state. DDAP plans to award around ten grants, each up to $200,000, to community-based organizations proposing initiatives aimed at the primary prevention of the use of any substance. 

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)

Kentucky

Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (meeting info here)

• Business Meeting: November 12, time TBD
• 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 (meeting info here)

• Special Session: Mallinckrodt Committee Meeting
• November 22, 9:00am EST
• 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 (meeting 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 (meeting info here)

• Full Board Meeting: November 13, 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: November 25, 2:00pm EST
• Executive Committee: November 13, 12:30 EST (or immediately following board meeting)
• Grant Oversight Committee: November 13, 9:30am EST
• 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: November 21, 10:30am – 2:00pm 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: November 19, 10am EST(info here)
• Coffee Chat: TBD, virtual
• This is held the first Friday of the month and is an opportunity to ask questions and hear announcements about opioid settlement funds

Tennessee

Opioid Abatement Council

• Meeting: December 13, 1:00pm EST (info here)
• In-person located in Franklin, TN. (Location rotates around the state.) 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: December 6, 3:00-5:00pm EST
• Finance Committee: TBD
• Board Meeting: TBD

West Virginia

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

• Board of Directors meeting: December 12, 12:45pm EST
• Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month