Those serving communities impacted by substance use across five counties in Southwest Colorado can apply for a new round of grants funded from opioid settlement money.
The newly offered funding shows another step taken as Colorado, like many states around the country, works to heal from wounds inflicted by widespread addiction, with money distributed by the Southwest Opioid Response District.
Grant applications are now open for projects that take on “opioid use and co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders,” according to a news release from SWORD.
Funding is designated for the counties of Montezuma, Dolores, La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan, but SWORD will be giving special preference to projects that encompass numerous counties.
“The SWORD Council is especially interested in proposals related to secure transportation, a region-wide youth-focused prevention campaign, and structured community engagement,” the news release reads.
Grants available during this year’s funding cycle will be distributed out of a total of $446,744, Claire West, project manager for SWORD said in an email.
Nonprofit groups, public health agencies and first responders are all eligible to apply.
This year, instead of reviewing grants, West will be helping applicants and awardees with technical assistance, she said.
“This is to help increase the opportunity for organizations with extremely limited capacity to more easily apply and access our regional share of opioid settlement funds available through the SWORD grant process,” said West.
The SWORD grants originate from a wider source of nearly $870 million in Colorado’s anticipated settlement dollars, much of it to be handed out gradually over the next several years. The money comes from several lawsuits against companies implicated in the opioid crisis, including Johnson & Johnson, Walgreens and Purdue Pharma, according to the state’s Office of the Attorney General.
In June, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was one of 55 AGs from all U.S. states and territories who signed onto a $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma settlement.
Under the Sackler family, Purdue Pharma manufactured and marketed opioids with dire consequences, in turn fueling waves of addiction that swept across the country.
Colorado is set to get over $75 million from that settlement over the next 15 years.
The state has set a standard of acceptable uses for the settlement money, like resources to prevent overdoses, aiding people with addiction transitioning out of prisons and educating health care providers.
“Because the settlement funds will be in Colorado for as much as another 15 years, there is the opportunity to be thoughtful and strategic about how those funds can be utilized,” José Esquibel, director of Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention said in an email.
Money from such settlements is largely allocated at smaller, county-by-county scales, ensuring the funds gets into the hands of local communities.
Hence, SWORD was established in 2021 to help steward opioid settlement money from the AG’s settlements. SWORD is one of 19 Regional Opioid Abatement Councils established across the state to oversee the funds.
With more money to come, plans are underway for more ambitious recovery services in southwest Colorado.
“SWORD’s long-term vision is to establish a peer-led recovery campus that integrates permanent supportive housing and recovery education,” said project manager West.
This latest cycle of grants through SWORD offered across the five counties will close Aug 15. Funds will be made available to awardees sometime in the beginning of December. More information can be found at https://www.region9edd.org/sword.
