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Opioid Abatement Authority toolkit aims to help cities deploy settlement funds
Summary
Presenters from the Opioid Abatement Authority and VCU Rights Center described a new, evidence-based OAA toolkit for Operation Stop applicants, clarified application requirements and deadlines (draft review by March 10, final April 1), and urged community-led strategies such as "unity dinners."
The Opioid Abatement Authority, working with the VCU Rights Center, unveiled a new toolkit and technical support aimed at helping cities and counties use opioid settlement funds for local prevention, treatment and harm-reduction projects.
"The objective is really simple: it is to get people sitting around a table talking about problems in community and walking away with actionable solutions," said Phil Rutherford, vice president of the Substance Use Continuum at the National Council for Mental Well-Being and founder of Black Faces Black Voices, describing community "unity dinners" that connect faith leaders, harm-reduction groups, treatment providers and others.
Dr. Jackie Britz, a family physician at Virginia Commonwealth University who helped develop the toolkit, said the project—funded by a grant from the Opioid Abatement Authority—pulls together nine strategic areas, evidence-based program examples and state- and city-level success stories. "We have information about medications for opioid use disorder, incarcerated populations, and promising strategies such as fentanyl test strips," Britz said.
Program staff urged applicants to prioritize community-driven designs. Tyler Burton, the OAA toolkit program manager, said VCU can act as a bridge between jurisdictions and the Opioid Abatement Authority to help highlight and scale successful local programs.
Officials clarified key application rules during a question-and-answer session. The mandatory element for Operation Stop applications is a partnership with a community-based organization; applicants must identify the high-risk residents or neighborhoods they intend to reach, explain how they will connect with those people and state whether the approach emphasizes harm reduction, treatment or recovery supports. Presenters repeatedly emphasized that applicants do not have to create services that do not already exist but must explain how they will link people to services.
The presenters described required reporting fields in the grants portal: a set of prepopulated performance measures that applicants must enter data for (presenters said the portal includes seven required metrics under two major categories). "If you're not doing clean needle, just put zero on your [measure], but you do have to put something in for each of these," a presenter said.
On timing and process, staff asked applicants to submit draft applications by March 10 if they want OAA review and feedback; the final application deadline is April 1. "March 10 is the due date for us to be able to get that in," one presenter said, while noting the portal allows messaging and limited edits up until April 1.
Speakers also highlighted data tools for targeting interventions. Presenters recommended OD MAP, which maps EMS-reported suspected overdoses, and clarified that Virginia Department of Health data reported by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are tabulated by the decedent's residence rather than the hospital where death occurred.
On funding flexibility, presenters said applicants may request matches from other OAA distributions or individual distributions where applicable, but potential carry-forward of unspent funds into a later fiscal year would be assessed case by case. Officials stressed urgency: funds are intended for quick implementation and a 24-month performance period is the standard for Operation Stop projects.
The session closed with an offer of technical assistance. Participants were encouraged to contact Phil Rutherford, Dr. Jackie Britz or Tyler Burton for help with proposal development, examples to feature in the toolkit, or to request independent review of subrecipient proposals. Presenters said VCU Rights Center and community partners can help jurisdictions that lack internal staff capacity to implement projects.
The Opioid Abatement Authority materials and the OAA toolkit website are early-stage; presenters asked jurisdictions to share local success stories and suggested the toolkit will be updated with user feedback and examples.
