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The Rhode Island Foundation is partnering with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to offer grants – fully funded with Opioid Settlement Agreement dollars – in two categories, to qualifying, local nonprofit organizations. The first grant program focuses on Capacity Support for Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Prevention, Harm Reduction, and Recovery Agencies. A total of $750,000 will be awarded from this program. The second focuses on Community Prevention Services for Youth Opioid Mitigation. A total of $2.5 million will be awarded from this program. The application deadline for both programs is March 10. Qualifying organizations are eligible to apply for a grant from both programs.

“EOHHS is excited about the potential of these grant dollars to make a real difference in the lives of Rhode Islanders - both to support young people in living healthy lives and to enhance the capacity of Rhode Island's nonprofit sector to address the challenges faced by people in recovery and those who use drugs," said EOHHS Acting Secretary Ana Novais. "We thank the members of the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee – a diverse, dedicated group of community experts, people with lived experience, municipal leaders, elected officials and policy makers – who work directly with our agency to identify key areas for evidence-based investments to best address the opioid crisis in Rhode Island. We also greatly appreciate the Attorney General and his staff for negotiating this settlement agreement for the state, the leadership of Governor McKee and the General Assembly on this issue, and the Rhode Island Foundation’s partnership, as we distribute funding as quickly and thoughtfully as possible.”

“Opioid use disorder is something that affects nearly every Rhode Islander in some way,” said Neil D. Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “It’s important that this allocation of the Settlement Funds is stewarded in a way that directly impacts, and benefits, organizations that are focused on expanding access to prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. As the state’s community foundation, we are pleased to be a partner in distributing these much-needed dollars and look forward to seeing their impact.”

The Community Prevention Services for Youth Opioid Mitigation grant program aims to support evidence-based or evidence-informed community-based opioid prevention services targeted towards children and youth (up to age 21). Proposals may be for projects that are up to two years in duration and up to $500,000 for two years. Interested nonprofit organizations can view the program specifications and apply here.

The Capacity Support for Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Prevention, Harm Reduction and Recovery Agencies Grant Application grant program will support small, grassroots nonprofit organizations that are carrying out key opioid mitigation activities like the ones described Rhode Island’s Opioid Settlement Agreement. Awards of up to $100,000 for one year will be made to small to midsize organizations with budgets up to $3 million. Interested nonprofit organizations can view the program specifications and apply here.

Applicants to either program must display an overall focus on equity in their work and must align their applications with the Rhode Island Opioid Settlement Agreement Guiding Principles. More information can be found in the grant program specifications.

These grant programs have been fully funded with proceeds from the state’s Opioid Settlement Agreement. In January 2022, Rhode Island joined the national opioid settlement with three major opioid distributors, leading to over $90 million in funding for state and local efforts to address Rhode Island’s opioid crisis.

“The opioid crisis is a devastating issue that impacts all 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island,” said Governor Dan McKee. “As Governor, I am committed to working with our Executive Office of Health & Human Services, the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, the Rhode Island Foundation and our non-profit partners to ensure they have the capacity building, prevention, treatment and recovery resources we need to save lives in our state.”

Together with settlements secured by Attorney General Peter F. Neronha, Rhode Island’s opioid litigation recoveries will total more than $114 million over the next 18 years.

“While no one program or effort will ever be enough to undo the harm suffered by Rhode Islanders from this ongoing opioid epidemic, we are making significant strides,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Over the past several years, we have fought hard to bring more than $250 million back to Rhode Island in cash and life-saving medication. I am grateful to our partners at EOHHS and the Rhode Island Foundation for recognizing the importance of open and transparent processes to ensure that these monies are spent as efficiently and impactfully as possible for our communities who have been hit so hard by this crisis.”

The Settlement Agreement states that all the funds will be directed to opioid abatement – including expanding access to opioid use disorder prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery. Rhode Island’s prevention priorities are to prevent overdoses, overdose deaths, and opioid misuse by identifying, developing, and evaluating multi-level strategies and interventions.

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) serves as the principal agency of the executive branch of state government (R.I.G.L. §42-7.2-2) responsible for overseeing the organization, finance and delivery of publicly funded health and human services. EOHHS directly administers the State Medicaid Program and provides strategic support and direction to Rhode Island’s other health and human services agencies. The agency's mission is to foster and strengthen a community-driven, equitable, comprehensive, responsive, and high-quality health and human services system in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential.