By Taylor Knopf
Over the next month, community service organizations across North Carolina can apply for state-funded grants up to $150,000 to fight the opioid epidemic in their areas.
Department of Health and Human Services Sec. Mandy Cohen announced the new grant opportunity last week, inviting any group or agency with a project that improves access to addiction treatment to apply before May 4.
“These grants will help local communities work together to turn the tide of the opioid crisis through treatment and recovery assistance,” Cohen said in a press release.
According to the news release, a wide range of organizations could qualify for the grants, including health departments, social services agencies, county corrections departments, emergency medical services, community organizations, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies “and other organizations that have a history of work in population health, substance use disorder prevention, treatment or recovery services, and harm reduction.”
These grants aim to advance the goals set in the state’s Opioid Action Plan, rolled out during a conference last summer.
Last year, Gov. Roy Cooper announced the plan to combat the opioid crisis and called it “flexible.” He said it would be updated frequently with new statistics and solutions.
The plan calls for everyone to work together, from federal and state lawmakers to law enforcement, local health departments, pharmacists, physicians, businesses, philanthropic groups and community activists.
The Request For Application (RFA) form is available online and outlines everything needed to request a grant. Between 10 and 20 grants are expected to be approved and awarded through this opportunity.
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Hi I’m hearing so much about. The opioan crisis. When will someone deal with mental illness and the need for new programs and Money to be released to help people with these illnesses.