Opioid Settlement Municipal Incentive Fund

Overview

Purpose: The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) invites applications from eligible and qualified vendors for the implementation of supportive service enhancement activities, leveraging resources provided by the Opioid Settlement funds to increase transparency, coordination, and alignment with the municipalities.   

Eligible Applicants and Joint Applications: Applicants who are eligible to apply for this funding must be one of the 39 Rhode Island Cities or Towns.    

Collaboration and coordination are key in certain areas of the State of Rhode Island; therefore, partnerships and joint applications are allowed to enhance the comprehensive nature of the proposed activities. Partnerships can take various forms, such as joint program development, sharing resources and expertise, referral networks, data sharing, and coordinated service delivery.    

Joint applications are permitted and strongly encouraged to meet the following expectations:   

  • Applicants should prioritize the development of place-based partnerships that address specific geographic locations from a whole-person approach.  
  • Applicants should outline their existing or intended partnerships and describe how these collaborations will contribute to the overall goals and outcomes of the proposed initiatives.     

Funding: Up to a total of $500,000 is being made available through the EOHHS for a period of one year, with potential options to extend or expand, to provide incentive opportunities to each of the 39 municipalities to develop standardized reporting or expand the use of their share of municipal Opioid Settlement funds in alignment with the OSAC’s priorities and the Governor's Overdose Task Force Strategic Plan. 

Allowable and Ineligible Activities: The allocated Opioid Settlement funds are intended to support initiatives, programs, and services directly related to addressing the impacts of the opioid crisis and supporting individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)/Substance Use Disorder (SUD).  The following grid contains the allowable uses of these funds: 

Allowable uses

Opioid Settlement Funds may not be used for expenses or purposes that do not align with the allowable uses as summarized above and further described as requirements set forth in Exhibit C of the Opioid Settlement Agreement.   

Any expenses or uses that are deemed ineligible or outside the scope of the allowable uses for these funds will not be considered for funding.  Applicants are advised to review the guidelines and eligibility criteria carefully and ensure that proposed expenditures are directly related to addressing the opioid crisis and OUD/SUD.    

Enhancement Activities and Tasks

Eligible municipalities are allowed to apply for one or more of the following activities:  

Task 1: Incentives to increase collaboration with the Opioid Settlement and Governor’s Overdose Task Force Strategic Plan  

Description of Activity: Develop and implement reporting templates and cadence in partnership with EOHHS.  

Rationale for Activity:  Improve alignment with the State’s overdose response plan and reduce duplication of efforts.  

Anticipated Outcomes    

  • Increase collaboration between the State and municipalities.  
  • Increase standardized reporting between the State and municipalities.   
  • Decrease rates of fatal overdoses and increase rates of recovery among the target population.  

Deliverables Provide the State (EOHHS) with regular reporting on the use of municipal Opioid Settlement funds.  

Performance Measures  

  • Number of activities reported on a regular basis.  
  • Amount of funds allocated to community-based or other organizations.   
  • Description of activities including but not limited to demographics, trends, outputs and outcomes.  

Preferred Timeline To begin December 2024   

Funds Available Up to $200,000 in total is available for one or more awards per municipality.   

Task 2:  Expansion of existing programming  

Description of Activity:  Provide funding to municipalities to expand existing municipally funded programs.   

Rationale for Activity:  These funds will be used to expand existing programs that are currently funded by municipal funds and deepen local level relationships with State funded community partners, Health Equity Zones, and improve alignment with the State’s overdose response plan.    

Anticipated Outcomes  

  • Increase number of individuals, families, or community engagement by expanding existing programs.  
  • Increase standardized reporting with existing programs between the State and municipality.    
  • Increase local level investment in overdose prevention and intervention programs.  

Deliverables Monthly or quarterly standardized reports to EOHHS providing populations served and amount of State and municipal funds that were utilized.  

Performance Measures 

  • Number of individuals, families, or community-based organizations participating.   
  • Number of activities that were expanded using this funding.   
  • Description of activities including but not limited to demographics, trends, outputs, and outcomes.  

Preferred Timeline To begin December 2024.  

Funds Available Up to $300,000 in total is available for one or more awards per municipality. 

Application Timeline and Approach to Review

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly. Funding will be available through the duration of the EOHHS delegated authority, which ends on August 31, 2029. Awards are subject to total funding availability. To be considered, applicants need to meet programmatic and reporting requirements, and follow the following quarterly award schedule: 

Apply by the following dates: Anticipated award announcements:
November 30, 2024 January 15, 2025
March 31, 2025 May 15, 2025
June 30, 2025 August 15, 2025
September 30, 2025 November 15, 2025

How to Apply

Click here to view and download the application. 

For any questions related to this grant, please email ohhs.opioidsettlement@ohhs.ri.gov.  

Please also refer to the full grant description document as a guide.  

Programmatic Requirements  

All award recipients who receive funding are required to meet the following conditions of participation:  

  • Actively participate in the Governor’s Overdose Task Force Workgroups.  
  • Attend the monthly Governor’s Overdose Task Force.  
  • Present at the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee (if requested).  
  • Attend continuous quality improvement training and participate in any related correction action plans and/or learning communities to improve service delivery.   
  • Host an annual site visit, as requested by EOHHS.  

Reporting Requirements  

All award recipients who receive funding are required to meet the following reporting requirements:  

  • Submission of a monthly EOHHS Status Report (using provided template).  
  • Submission of quarterly performance measures (as negotiated based upon the framework provided in Section IX).  
  • Collection and reporting of key demographic data for all operational, process, output, outcome, and performance measures that include, at a minimum:  
    • Race/Ethnicity  
    • Language Spoken  
    • ZIP Code  
    • Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation  
    • Disability and Veteran Status  

Performance measures, by Task, are to be submitted on a quarterly basis and meet the demographic data collection requirements and necessary data breakouts. Negotiation of core measures and optional measures will be conducted upon award. 

The proposal selection and approval process shall consist of a three-step process as described below:  

Step 1: Threshold evaluation. EOHHS will conduct a threshold review of all applications. The threshold review will determine the following:  

  • Application Completeness  
  • Proposal(s) submitted, and all forms were complete and signed.  
  • All Questions were answered on the application.  
  • Applicant Eligibility  
  • Municipalities must meet eligibility requirements described above and be able to conduct business in the State of RI.  

Applications found to be technically or substantially non-responsive at any point in the evaluation process will be rejected and not receive further consideration.  

Step 2: Technical scoring. All applications that meet the threshold criteria listed above will be forwarded to the review committee. The review committee will thoroughly review, evaluate, and approve the applications against the following rating criteria: 

Commitment to Equity and Populations 25 points
Proposed Partnerships 20 points
Proposal/Project Design 20 points
Program and Reporting Requirements 10 points
Anticipated Outcomes 5 points
Cost Effectiveness 20 points
TOTAL POINTS 100 points

Step 3: Final scoring and selection. EOHHS may select proposals for funding based solely upon the Technical Scoring (highest to lowest) or may separate proposals into categories and select the highest scoring proposals within each category. Categories may include, for example, funding source, geography served, population served and/or project type. 

  • BIPOC: BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. It is an inclusive term used to collectively refer to individuals and communities who are racially and ethnically diverse and have historically been marginalized and underrepresented.  

  • CLAS: Culturally and linguistically appropriate services guided by a set of standards nationally that are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities by establishing a blueprint for health and health care organizations.  

  • Overdose (OD): An overdose refers to the consumption or exposure to a substance or drug in quantities that exceed the body's ability to handle it, resulting in harmful effects or even death.  

  • Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): A medical condition characterized by problematic patterns of opioid use, leading to significant impairment or distress. It is diagnosed based on specific criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).  

  • Racial Equity: is a process of eliminating racial disparities and improving outcomes for everyone. It is the intentional and continual practice of changing policies, practices, systems, and structures by prioritizing measurable change in the lives of people of color.  

  • Recovery: The process through which individuals with substance use disorders or mental health conditions are able to improve their overall well-being, manage symptoms, and achieve a meaningful and fulfilling life.  

  • Social Determinants of Health: Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.  

  • Substance Use Disorder (SUD):  A diagnostic term used to describe a pattern of substance use that leads to clinically significant impairment or distress. It encompasses a range of substances, including alcohol and drugs.  

  • Supportive Services:  A range of services and resources provided to individuals to address their specific needs and promote stability. These services may include case management, counseling, access to healthcare, employment assistance, and other supports tailored to the individual's circumstances.   

  • Stigma: The negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes held by individuals or society towards a particular group or individuals who possess certain characteristics or experiences, often leading to discrimination and social exclusion.  

  • Systemic Oppression: Systemic oppression refers to the pervasive and institutionalized patterns, structures, and practices within a society or social system that result in the unjust treatment, discrimination, and marginalization of certain groups or individuals based on their social identities, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.