The Futures Institute

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program

Published by rose s on

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program

About

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant funds substance use disorder treatment access, particularly medication assisted treatment, to rural communities experiencing the opiod crisis. This grant aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in rural communities.

Eligible Uses

There are a variety of uses depending on the type of programming. Grants include  Medication Assisted Treatment Access, Overdose Prevention,  Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health, and ural Centers of Excellence on Substance Use Disorder

Grant Award

Up to $1,000,000

Eligible
Recipients

City governments, county governments, special district governments, for profit organizations (other than small businesses), independent school districts, small businesses, and state governments

Restrictions

Unknown

Due Date

Different dates depending on program,  with programs open through June 2023 

Agency

Department of Health and Human Services (Health Resources & Services Administration)

Materials Needed

Unknown

Application Difficulty

Unknown

Evidence on Investments in Health and Treatment

To implement community safety-focused programs, jurisdictions must have an adequate supply of peers and professionals who can provide voluntary, non-coercive services that support physical and mental health—and allow appropriate staffing for non-carceral crisis response and similar programs. Expanding access to basic health care has been found to reduce crime, as well as save money on legal system expenses. Research demonstrates that when the number of treatment facilities for substance use disorder increases, crime decreases in the same area. Expanded access to mental health treatment, and psychiatric treatment in particular, has been found to reduce violent crime. 

This effect is especially powerful when looking at youth. Increasing wraparound services in schools that treat physical and mental health in high risk areas have been shown to reduce juvenile arrests as well as child abuse cases. High quality afterschool programs that promote students’ health and development can reduce drug use and decrease arrests and other forms of criminal-legal involvement among children. Furthermore, early childhood intervention programs, as well as nutrition programs for newborns, are likely to reduce crime. Expanded access to mental health treatment, and to psychiatric treatment in particular, has also been found to reduce violent crime. 

Community safety cannot succeed without a robust, well-trained workforce of mental health and treatment professionals—not only because these services can reduce violence and harm, but also because physical and mental health are vitally important for safety itself. For too long, this country has taken a punishment and enforcement approach to how we address mental health, substance use, and related issues; the following investments, paired with further public health-centered policy changes, are a first step toward changing this paradigm. 

Grant Writing Resources

Grants.Gov Resources

Applicant Training Videos (step-by-step guide on how to find grants, set up an account on grants.gov, and submit an application)

Applicant FAQ page

Other Resources

Community Toolbox’s Applying For Grants Toolkit (Outline of process + example applications)

FAQs

Q: What is community safety? 

A: We use the term “community safety” as well as “non-carceral safety” to indicate an approach to reducing violence and harm that invests in people over punishment. This can include unarmed civilian first responders and community violence prevention, but must also center preventative and root-caused focused solutions such as investments in schools, healthcare, and the environment. These solutions not only create holistic safety by improving well-being, they have been directly tied to reductions in violence. 

Q: How do the grants in the American Rescue Plan and other recent bills fit into this database? 

A: This database contains grants contained both in specific legislation (like the American Rescue Plan Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act, and the Inflation Reduction act) but it focuses primarily on grants funded annually through the federal budget process. Please see our resources specifically on ARPA and IIJA for more information on funding opportunities in those bills. 

Q: Where should I go if I have additional questions? 

A: Feel free to reach out to samwashington@civilrightscorps.org with questions or comments. If you’d like to suggest a grant, please fill out this form

 

Insights from Grant Recipients
Sorry, we don’t yet have insights on this grant.

Did you or someone you know apply for and/or receive this grant? Please fill out this form to help others learn more about this funding source!