Berks Opioid Settlement Fund: Request for Funding Process

The Council on Chemical Abuse is open to requests from interested community organizations and/or members for grants to provide services in accordance with the National Opioid Settlement. Services must be offered in Berks County and/or provided to Berks County residents. Funding requests must offer or provide services in any of the areas as outlined below:

• Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (“OUD”) and co-occurring Substance Use Disorder any co-occurring Mental Health (“SUD/MH”) conditions through evidence-based or evidence informed programs or strategies.
• Support people in treatment and/or recovery from OUD and any co-occurring SUD or MH conditions through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Connect people to care who have or are at risk of developing OUD and any co-occurring SUD or MH conditions through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Address the needs of persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD or MH conditions who are involved in, are at risk of becoming involved in, or are transitioning out of the criminal justice system through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Address the needs of pregnant or parenting women with OUD and any co-occurring SUD or MH conditions, and the needs of their families, including babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Support efforts to prevent over-prescribing and ensure appropriate prescribing and dispensing of opioids through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Support efforts to discourage or prevent misuse of opioids through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Support efforts to prevent or reduce overdose deaths or other opioid-related harms through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies.
• Provide education/training of law enforcement or other first responders regarding appropriate practices and precautions when dealing with fentanyl or other drugs.
• Support wellness and support services for first responders and others who experience secondary trauma associated with opioid-related emergency events.
• Support opioid abatement research.

Interested parties seeking Berks Opioid Settlement funds must first submit a concept paper outlining the proposed service.  Concept papers are not to exceed four (4) pages and must address the following:

• Name, purpose and description of the project/activity. This must include target populations, locations and approach.
• Experience in providing the proposed service.
• Proposed timelines for project start-up.
• Plan for project continuation if Berks County Opioid Settlement funding is not available.
• General budget for the project and the amount of Berks County Opioid Settlement funds to be requested. This must include an overall amount for personnel, administrative, operating expenses.

Concept papers must be emailed to OpioidSettlement@cocaberks.org.

COCA shall review and respond to all concept papers submitted. If COCA is interested in potentially contracting for the service, the interested party will be requested to submit a more comprehensive and detailed proposal and budget.

All questions regarding this process should be emailed to OpioidSettlement@cocaberks.org.

Funding period: 1/1/23 – 12/31/23
Amount funded: $300,000
Project description: This program is designed to initiate and stabilize inmates at Berks County Jail System with the opioid antagonist Vivitrol prior to being released to the community.  Vivitrol helps to block the effects of opioids and is a significant aid.  This program was started under a grant from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

Funding period: 9/1/22-6/30/23
Amount funded: $180,000
Project description:This funding will pay for individuals in need of withdrawal management and/or residential treatment services.

Funding period: 4/1/23-6/30/23
Amount funded: $4,125
Project description: A service designed to assist individuals living in Berks County with opioid use disorders and any co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health conditions who are receiving recovery and other related services. Specifically targeted are those people who do not have access to other types of transportation such as bus service, sufficient rides from family or friends, or their own car. Danny’s Ride is intended to be the ‘last resort’ for transportation in order to maximize the impact of available funding for the program.

Funding period: 3/1/23-6/30/23
Amount funded: $53,381
Project description: A workforce development program developed and operated by Berks Connections Pretrial Services (BCPS).  This program helps those in recovery from opioid use disorders and any co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health conditions to become reliable and successful employees and helps address issues of unemployment and the underemployment.