Good afternoon!

This week we’re highlighting a new resource from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab: Supporting Substance-Using Caregivers: Pregnancy, Birth, and Early Childhood. This publication shows how jurisdictions can use funds—like opioid settlement dollars—to better support caregivers and their families. Efforts that focus on providing timely support can make all the difference in keeping families together and building stability. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions still rely on punitive measures or overlook parental substance use rather than treating it as a health behavior or medical condition.

The report examines the challenges that caregivers who use substances face, including engaging with supports that trigger stigma and fear of punitive responses, interventions that often come only after a crisis, and recovery services not designed for them. It offers promising solutions like building trust through non-punitive approaches, early intervention, and designing recovery programs that honor caregiving. The publication also provides examples of various programs, offering ideas on using settlement funds to support family stability and deliver compassionate, effective services.

Alabama

The state of Alabama has opened stipend requests for grandparents raising children due to parental overdose or substance use Grandparents are eligible to apply for a one-time stipend grant between $1,000 and $2,000 for the use of groceries, supplies, rent, sports and other expenses associated with raising of a child. The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) and Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) are using $279,071 of opioid settlement funds for the pilot program. Grandfamilies in just three counties are eligible to apply for the one-time payment, and state officials are uncertain if it will be offered again next year.

Limestone County has yet to make use of $459,000 from opioid settlement money. Madison County has spent $50,000 currently through the adult drug court. The County Commission is considering allocating funds towards treatment at Madison County Jail. Commissioners met with Partnership for a Drug Free America plan spending.

Maryland

The City of Baltimore has won $80 million against Walgreens through an opioid settlement lawsuit. The funds are to be disrupted as $45 million by the end of this calendar year and the remainder by December 31, 2025. Balitmore leaders have made the decision to allocate the entirety of the funds in the amounts of $2 million for the Maryland Peer Advisory Council, $1 million for We Our Us, $1 million for On Our Own of Maryland, $1 million for the Maryland Coalition of Families, $15 million for the city to establish comprehensive outreach services that operate 24/7, $5 million for 988 education and outreach, and $10 million for Baltimore Comprehensive Overdose Response to End the Epidemic (BCORE). 

Mississippi

The City of Natchez is set to receive $35,000 from the Mississippi Opioid Settlement, and Adams County Judge Walt Brown, who runs the county’s youth court and several drug intervention programs for youths and their families, asked the city to allocate part of these funds to his youth court and drug intervention programs. Adams County, which is set to receive $260,000, had already been approached by Brown with the same request.

North Carolina

The City of Greenville preliminarily approved its collaboration with Pitt County regarding the use of approximately $500,000 in settlement funds. Recognizing Pitt County’s capacity to address opioid-related challenges, the City proposed transferring both current and future funds to the County.

Ohio

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation held its monthly public board meeting on October 9, announcing the first set of grant recipients from its initial $51 million funding round, with 18 organizations receiving over $2.1 million. The awards are as follows:

• Region 5 – Board Volunteer Association – $69,500 – Project Heel: Child Advocate & Therapy Dog for Abused & Neglected Children – Support services for impacted children and families. 
• Region 5- City of Green Division of Fire – $155,000 – Quick Response Team – Enhance public safety and first responder services.
• Region 5 – IBH Addiction Recovery – $75,000 – Reaching for Recovery: Building Sustainable Recovery Through Aftercare Programs – Provide recovery support services.
• Region 5 – South Street Ministries – $150,000 – South Street Reentry Services – Address issues within the criminal legal system.
• Region 5 – Summit County Turning Point Program – $154,800 – Summit County Turning Point Program Alumni Group – Fund innovative recovery strategies.
• Region 5 – Summit Recovery Hub – $250,000 – Summit Recovery Hub Enhanced Recovery Navigation – Provide additional recovery support services.
• Region 5 – Truly Reaching You – $90,000 for Sustained Recovery for Men Reentering – Community in Summit County – Offer recovery support services.
• Region 8 – Wright State University: College of Health, Education and Human Services; School of Professional Psychology – $54,212 – Disseminating Behavioral Couple Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.
• Region 8 – Good Shepherd Ministries – $75,000 – Feed the Streets Sober Seed Bus – Support recovery services.
• Region 8 – Single Parents Rock – $50,710 – Trauma-Informed Care for Victims of Domestic Violence – Provide intervention and crisis support services.
• Region 16 – Recovery Services of Northwest Ohio – $55,000 – Serenity Haven Women’s Residential Program – Improve infrastructure.
• Region 16 – Triangular Processing – $200,000 – Recovery Services Transportation – Provide recovery support services.
• Region 17 – Family Resource Center of Northwest Ohio – $50,000 – Streamlining Operational Processes and Elevating Care Quality Through AI and Machine Learning – Fund innovative solutions.
• Region 17 – Hardin County Domestic Relations Court – $49,103 – Hardin County Domestic Relations Court Diversion Program – Address criminal legal system issues.
• Region 17 – Hardin County Recovery Court – $75,000 – Hardin County Recovery Court Defense Counsel – Support the criminal legal system.
• Region 17 – Sandusky County Department of Job and Family Services – $236,000 – Northwest Ohio Treatment Foster Care MST Expansion to provide services for impacted children and families.
• Region 17 – Sandusky County Public Health – $128,414 – Sandusky and Seneca County Prevention Initiatives – Support prevention efforts.
• Region 17 – Wood County Children’s Services Association – $223,873 – CRC’s Co-Occurring Disorders Program – Enhance treatment and healthcare services.

The Board also gave preliminary approval for 118 additional grants totaling $22.7 million. 

Pennsylvania

Westmoreland County is using settlement funds for pain management options for patients in severe pain using Mutual Aid ambulances introducing nitrous oxide, a nonopioid pain relief. This initiative, led by Dr. Bill Jenkins, will be funded by a $66,000 grant designated for essential supplies and employee training. The program aims to assist patients who are avoiding opioids due to concerns about addiction or who have opioid use disorder. Alongside Mutual Aid, other funding recipients include Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission: Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, $435,000 for prevention, treatment and outreach, Westmoreland Community Action, $149,040 for expansion and re-implementation of recovery-related workplace and employment programs, WIN Workforce Development Program, $142,883 for helping people affected by opioids find jobs, North Huntingdon, $195,052 for a DARE program, Rostraver, $119,140 for a Take Note program, Lower Burrell, $62,833 for a student engagement officer, Monessen Police Department, $120,958 for a DARE program, Hempfield, $63,630 for a DARE officer in conjunction with Hempfield Area School District, Lost Dreams Awakening, $204,054, and Sage’s Army, $183,570, for community peer support, Westmoreland County Prison, $260,000 for its MOUD program, Westmoreland County Department of Community Relations and Prevention, $334,351.

The City of Philadelphia sought to use $7.5 million in opioid settlement funds for its “Kensington Plan,” aimed at revitalizing the neighborhood by improving parks, schools, and housing to address trauma and prevent opioid misuse. Initially, the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse Trust rejected the proposal. After the city’s appeal and local advocacy, the Trust has yet to decide after the October 3, 2024, meeting. The appeal process is set for review in early October 2024, and the outcome will impact how cities can use opioid settlement funds to address broader social issues contributing to the opioid crisis such as environmental factors, housing stability and neighborhood safety revitalization. 

West Virginia

Now that the deadline for the West Virginia First Foundation’s Initial Opportunity Grant has passed, the foundation staff and a panel of experts will start reviewing applications to allocate part of the opioid settlement funds. The deadline for applications was October 5, and the foundation received 174 submissions for the $19.2 million Initial Opportunity Grant. This grant will distribute $800,000 across four target areas in six regions of the state, with up to four awards per target area per region. Of the applications, 58 focused on youth prevention/workforce development, 27 on police diversion/interdiction programs, 21 on child advocacy centers/neonatal abstinence syndrome programs, and 17 on transitional/recovery housing.

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)

• October 21, 3:00pm – 4:00pm 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)

• October 28, 10:00am – 3:00pm EST
• 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: October 29, 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: October 21, 2:00pm EST
• Executive Committee: October 23, 9:00am EST (or immediately following board meeting)
• Grant Oversight Committee: October 23, 3:00pm EST
• Expert Panel: October 17, 2:00pm EST
• 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: TBD (info here)
• Coffee Chat: November 1 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

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: TBD
• Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month