By Forum Staff
Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday announced more than $55 million awarded and an additional $20 million in procurement opportunities made available through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund to support a range of addiction services across New York State.
The funding builds on ongoing efforts to distribute the millions of dollars awarded through a series of agreements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, and address the impact of the opioid and overdose epidemic throughout New York State. Additional funding is also being made available for two separate initiatives to increase access to addiction treatment, and support the addiction workforce.
The initiatives supported through the $55 million include:
Non-Medical Transportation
Funding provided through this initiative will assist providers in developing a transportation program for individuals who are enrolled in or are seeking treatment, prevention, recovery, or harm reduction services for a substance use disorder.
This initiative will assist individuals by providing them transportation to and from a variety of destinations that support their individualized recovery efforts and goals. In addition, this initiative will assist the individual in developing their own transportation plan to promote long-term transportation independence. The funding awarded through this initiative will fund one year extensions to their current contracts.
Recipients are listed below by their State Opioid Response (SOR) Regional Network. Each recipient is receiving $240,000 from this initiative.
- Brooklyn: Advanced Health Network, Inc.
- Citywide: Coordinated Behavioral Care Inc.
- Queens: Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc.
Recovery Community and Outreach Centers
An additional $6 million is being awarded to all OASAS Recovery Community and Outreach Centers to enhance and expand recovery support services. This is an extension of existing funding which was made available last year to bring the annual budget of all recovery centers to $535,000.
This funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including staffing, improving infrastructure and technology, equipment, trainings, and minor renovations.
Local Impact Initiatives Round 1 and 2
This initiative provides funding for small non-profits to receive up to $9,500 to support their community-based work. Providers that are eligible are small nonprofits with revenue of less than $750,000 annually. In total, there are 34 recipients (18 in round one and 16 in round 2) that received $322,075 in total.
Regional Abatements
More than $46 million from the 2024 OSF appropriations has been paid to municipalities and local governments per the terms of the settlement agreements. The use of these dollars is at the discretion of the entity and guided by the allowable use documents under the settlement agreements, which are available to view on the OASAS website. Last year, more than $64 million was provided to municipalities through the 2023 OSF regional abatement fund.
Additional procurements and application opportunities now available through OASAS include:
Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment Programs – RFA
To support treatment expansions across New York State, OASAS has issued a request for applications for $9.5 million to fund new Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment Programs. The programs provide more opportunities to access person-centered, comprehensive treatment services, including medication treatment for opioid use disorder around the state.
Programs receiving this funding will operate both an outpatient treatment program and an opioid treatment program at the same site.
“New York State is leading the way in getting settlement funds out to providers and communities that have been impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis so that they may continue their work to save lives,” Hochul said.
