Good afternoon!

The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has launched a pulse check survey to gather insights on how local health departments (LHDs) and syringe services programs (SSPs) are engaging with opioid settlement funds. As harm reduction is identified as a core strategy in the national settlement agreement, the way states and localities implement these strategies varies widely. This survey is designed to capture the level of knowledge and involvement that LHDs and SSPs have regarding settlement funds, regardless of their current engagement. It will help NACCHO better understand how to support these organizations in navigating the complex landscape of opioid settlement distribution. The survey is confidential, takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and will provide valuable aggregate data to inform NACCHO’s ongoing efforts. Please complete the survey by October 4, 2024, using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/4ud2pifAvv

Alabama

The Partnership for a Drug-Free Community, in Huntsville, applied for funding from the Alabama Opioid Settlement Commission and Alabama Department of Mental Health to expand its services to four counties surrounding Madison County. The Partnership had signed the contract and began offering assessments, peer support, referrals, and case management in these counties, aiming to help underserved and uninsured individuals. 

Kentucky

The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission approved Attorney General Russell Coleman’s proposal to spend $3.6 million in opioid settlement funds on the “Better Without It” youth prevention campaign. The two-year initiative targets 13- to 26-year-olds through social media and school-based marketing promoting drug-free messages, influencer partnerships, and digital content

Spencer County Fiscal Court meeting, Jeff Lott of NET Recovery Corp. (NRC) presented NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) Device, marketed as an alternative to medicine for managing opioid withdrawal. Lott requested $27,500 in settlement funds for five residents to use the device. The court unanimously voted to pursue an agreement with NRC, contingent on legal review, paying upon the completion of each case.

Maryland

The City of Baltimore approved granting settlment funds towards the following organizations: $5 million for Tuerk House, Inc., $5 million for Helping Up Mission; $3 million for Baltimore Safe Haven; $3 million for HOPE Safe Haven; $2 million for More Than a Shop; $1 million for Marian House; and $1 million for Turnaround Tuesday. Additionally, the city has met to create a share of the funds that include $20 million towards to the city’s health department, and $42 million had already been allocated to a dozen organizations in Baltimore.

New York

Oneida County awarded over $1 million of settlments funds to five local organizations. The Center for Family Life and Recovery received $99,000 for peer support and anti-stigma campaigns. Helio Health was awarded $183,955 to expand rural substance use treatment and telehealth. ICAN received $420,000 for school-based opioid prevention programs. The Partnership to End Addiction got $16,977 to promote overdose prevention texts. Upstate Caring Partners was awarded $299,970 to expand peer recovery centers and support services for people with opioid use disorder.

Ohio

Lake County Commissioners awarded $2,155,571 in settlement funds to the following organizations: Crossroads: Crisis Response/Law Enforcement Collaboration – $157,000, Herren Talks: Prevention Education Speaker – $20,000, Juvenile Court: Custody, Change of Custody/Visitation and Parentage Mediation – $264,000, Juvenile Court: Diversion Drug and Alcohol Awareness Class – $10,000, Lake County Narcotics Agency: Harm Reduction Program – $444,571, Lake County Sheriff’s Office: Substance Abuse Taskforce – $750,000, Lake-Geauga Recovery Center: Expanding Existing Residential Treatment Facility – $150,000, Mentor Municipal Court: Drug Court Specialty Docket – $60,000. 

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Opioid Trust and The Erie Co. Department of Human Services have awarded The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) a $119,200 settlement grant. The funding will support LECOM’s Sustainable Treatment Education Prevention through the Unified Partnerships STEP-UP initiative. A key competent to the program’s mission is to offer education to all students across the College of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine and School of Podiatric Medicine on the use of naloxone. Additional stigma and SUD education will be offered to employees, patients and caregivers.

Wyoming County officials have allocated $75,000 of settlement funds to Deterra kits. Around 17,000 kits will be distributed, one for each household in the county. Additional spending includes $70,000 for the salary of a co-responder position that addresses human service-based incidents. 

West Virginia

West Virginia First Foundation announced $19,200,000.00 in Initial Opportunity Grants and limited to applicants in the following areas:

1. Diversion programs (LEAD, CIT, QRTs, Police and Peers, Day Report, etc.) and police

interdiction programs;

(note: The WV MOU makes “Funding for law enforcement efforts to curtail the sale, distribution, promotion or use of opioids and other drugs to reduce the oversupply of licit and illicit opioids, including regional jail fees” a Core Strategy)

2. Youth Prevention and workforce development;

3. Child Advocacy Centers/Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome programs; and

4. Transitional/Recovery Housing expansion. This Target Area is limited to

currently certified operators within the State of West Virginia.

WV has six Regions, defined in Exhibit B. Each Region will be allocated up to $800,000.00 in each Target Area. The Foundation may issue up to four (4) awards per Target Area per Region. Applicants may apply for up to $800,000.00 in each Target Area. Application deadline is October 5, 2024. 

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)

• September 23, 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 8, 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 9, 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: September 23, 2:00pm EST
• Executive Committee: September 25, 9:00am EST
• Grant Oversight Committee: September 25, 3:00pm EST
• Expert Panel: September 19, 2:00pm EST
• Investment Committee: September 25, 10:00am EST

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: October 4, 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: September 30 (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: October 10, 2:00pm EST
• Meetings are held the first Thursday of the month