Forsyth County is requesting applications for Opioid Settlement and Behavioral Health funds from organizations and programs that will serve mental health, substance use and intellectual and developmental disability needs of children and adults for fiscal year 2025-2026 at beginning July 1, 2025.
As part of the Opioid Settlement, Forsyth County is expected to receive more than $37 million over an 18-year period. A Memorandum of Agreement between the state of North Carolina and local governments direct how opioid settlement funds are distributed and used in our state. Forsyth County has elected Option B which may involve funding strategies from the Exhibit A list, or a longer list of strategies found in Exhibit B. Funds shall be used to respond to the negative impacts of the opioid epidemic to Forsyth County residents through implementation of high-impact evidence-based strategies.
Information about how opioid settlement funds can be used in North Carolina, including Option A and Option B Exhibits, is available on the NC MOA Resource Center website. Additional information about the opioid settlements is available on NC DOH's MorePowerfulNC website and on the Community Opioid Resources Engine for North Carolina (CORE-NC).
Eligible applicants must demonstrate they are able to provide the service specifications and standards set forth in this Request, shall meet criteria for Forsyth County vendors and Forsyth County contract terms, and shall meet all applicable conditions and requirements for Opioid Settlement funds.
Priority areas for funding should include projects that address the following strategies. Please pick the ONE strategy that aligns the best with your project. Please pick from Strategy A if you feel like your project fits under an A and B strategy. If you have two projects that are focused on different strategies, please put in an application for each strategy/project.
Exhibit A Strategies:
2.Evidence-based addiction treatment
3.Recovery support services
4.Recovery housing support
5.Employment-related Services
6.Early Intervention
7.Naloxone Distribution
8.Post-overdose response team
9.Syringe Service Programs
10.Criminal Justice diversion
11.Addiction treatment for incarcerated persons
12.Reentry Programs
Exhibit B Strategies:
A.9. Support workforce development for addiction professionals who work with persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.
B.2. Provide the full continuum of care of treatment and recovery services for OUD and any cooccurring SUD/MH conditions, including supportive housing, peer support services and counseling, community navigators, case management, and connections to community-based services.
G.1. Fund media campaigns to prevent opioid misuse
G.3. Public education relating to drug disposal
G.4. Drug take-back disposal or destruction programs
G.7. Engage non-profits and faith-based communities as systems to support prevention
G.8. Fund evidence-based prevention programs in schools or evidence-informed school and community education programs and campaigns for students, families, school employees, school athletic programs, parent-teacher and student associations, and others.
H.1. Increase availability and distribution of naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses for first responders, overdose patients, individuals with OUD and their friends and family members, individuals at high risk of overdose, schools, community navigators and outreach workers, persons being released from jail or prison, or other members of the general public.
Please direct questions to Annie Vasquez, Substance Use Health Educator, at vasquead@forsyth.cc or 336-703-3175.
Behavioral Health funding is for organizations and programs that will serve the mental health, substance use, and developmental disability needs of children and adults in Forsyth County. Priority areas for funding may include but not be limited to: projects that facilitate quicker access to services and supports, education outreach and/or training efforts, jail and/or emergency department diversion, peer support services, transitional and supported housing, transportation to treatment appointments and other services/supports that eliminate barriers to accessing care, developmental disabilities support services, respite services, expansion of service capacity for individuals that do not speak/speak limited English, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma informed counseling, and psychological and substance use evaluations & assessments.
For any questions related to your application, please contact Amber Humble, Behavioral Health Services Supervisor, at humbleal@forsyth.cc or 336-703-2606.
All applications should be submitted electronically through the designated portal at: https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/FORSYTHCOUNTYNC/participant
Please see below for the anticipated funding timeline.