Grants committee approves local opioid-abatement awards including SUBLOCADE pilot and naloxone expansion

The Opioid Abatement Authority Grants Committee on a voice vote approved staff recommendations to amend existing city and county awards and to authorize new individual distribution grants for local opioid‑abatement efforts.

Charlie Lincomb, the OAA’s director of operations, told committee members that 72% of city and county award packages have returned their award paperwork and funds have been or will soon be transmitted, while about 28% still have outstanding documentation requirements tied mainly to new projects or carry‑forward funding rules. "We have, 72% of them that have returned their award packages and funds that have been or will soon be transmitted," Lincomb said.

The committee approved an individual distribution recommendation of $14,118 to Orange County to fund a part‑time opioid‑response program coordinator who will implement local roadmap recommendations, coordinate with first responders, address transportation barriers, provide training, and run a countywide media and education campaign.

Staff also recommended funding for three Charlottesville projects. One project, recommended for $9,832 in individual distribution funds, will add four naloxone (Narcan) doses to AED and bloodborne‑pathogen boxes in 65 city‑owned locations, add bilingual signage and instructions, and expand naloxone access where city staff interact with the public. Packet materials also list additional "gold‑standard" funding associated with Charlottesville’s proposal; the packet text is unclear on the exact gold‑standard amount and staff characterized that supplemental funding as "not specified" in the meeting materials.

Two other locally coordinated projects filed separately by Charlottesville City and Albemarle County won committee approval to move forward. One is an 18‑month pilot to introduce SUBLOCADE (monthly injectable buprenorphine) at the Albemarle–Charlottesville Regional Jail to reduce diversion risks associated with oral buprenorphine and to close dosing gaps after release. The other is a 2.5‑year pilot to embed a qualified mental‑health clinician at the Charlottesville/Albemarle emergency communications center to respond to callers in crisis; staff estimated the embedded‑clinician pilot would reach roughly 3,600 callers per year and noted the project is supported by a Bureau of Justice grant.

Committee members questioned whether the embedded clinician would be dedicated solely to opioid‑related crises and what credentials would define the role. One committee member pressed whether the position would be "dedicated just to the efforts that are our priority." Lincomb and staff member Kat said the application identifies a "qualified mental health professional" and that staff could require a job description and add contingencies or time‑and‑effort reporting to ensure the position meets OAA reporting expectations.

Tony, a committee member who spoke during the meeting, underscored an evaluation point of past committee guidance: "This is not a competitive grant," he said, noting cities and counties are pulling down entitlement funds and staff are evaluating whether proposed uses meet the settlement requirements and state law. He added that the committee earlier had advised staff to treat crisis programs with a nexus to opioid or substance‑use issues as eligible uses of certain funds.

The committee approved the recommended city/county amendments and the new individual distribution awards by unanimous consent. Motions and seconds were recorded on the record; the chair announced unanimous approval after the voice vote.

Also noted during the meeting: board member Mr. Holland has tendered his resignation for personal health reasons and the full board will consider a resolution of thanks at its June meeting. Staff also sought committee input on administrative flexibility for carryover adjustments (staff suggested a 10–15% tolerance range as reasonable to limit extra meetings). The committee will meet again in June to consider administrative‑approval language and any remaining items.