Empowering BIPOC Communities in the Opioid Response Grant

>>>THIS APPLICATION IS CLOSED. IF THE APPLICATION IS OPENED, THE APPLICATION DATES WILL BE UPDATED ACCORDINGLY.<<<

Nspire – A Park Community Initiative, Inc. has partnered with the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (KORE) to offer a grant opportunity to raise awareness about overdose prevention, reduce stigma associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) and stimulant use disorder (StimUD), and promote greater access to harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services for persons with OUD and StimUD, with a primary focus on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The opioid epidemic has historically primarily focused on White suburban and rural communities. However, rates of opioid and stimulant-related overdose deaths are now higher amongst Black Kentuckians than White Kentuckians. The consequences of substance use disorders are exacerbated by longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in behavioral health care as well as the war on drugs. Thus, this grant opportunity aims to reduce disparities by increasing outreach and engagement within BIPOC communities that are underserved and most at risk.

Grants will support community campaigns and outreach activities that increase community understanding of overdose prevention and response, OUD and StimUD, Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), as well as expanding access within communities of color to harm reduction, treatment and recovery support services. This grant opportunity is focused on communities of color and vulnerable populations that are disproportionately impacted by OUD/StimUD and criminalization of SUD, and that often have less access to treatment and information about services and supports. These include but are not limited to Black/African American, Native American, Latinx, and Asian-Pacific Islander communities in Kentucky.

We are seeking applications from organizations that encompass health equity as an organization and will develop and implement culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate outreach and awareness projects. This grant opportunity is intended for organizations and partners who possess cultural humility and responsiveness, and reflect the racial, ethnic and cultural community they intend to serve so that project activities/materials are tailored and utilize stigma-reducing approaches that address systemic and cultural barriers to reducing overdose death.

Partners who may apply for the Empowering Communities of Color in the Opioid Response grant opportunity include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations, recovery community organizations, faith-based, behavioral health, and social service providers invested in and reflective of impacted communities of color. Selected organizations will be required to establish and adhere to a clearly outlined approach to increase outreach, awareness, education and/or stigma reduction within communities of color. The focus of the grant is specific to opioid and stimulant use disorders.

For a Glossary of Terms and Acronyms, please go to http://www.parkcommunity.com/nspire/ and look under Grant Application Resources. (Click Here for direct access to the list.)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Nspire will fund at least 11 organizations that meet the following minimum requirements:

• Lead applicant must be a nonprofit organization with 501c status.
• Located in the state of Kentucky.
• Provide services in the state of Kentucky to persons that use opioids (e.g. heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl) and/or stimulants (e.g. cocaine, methamphetamine)
• Are a community-based organization with established community relationships that reflects and has a history of investment and engagement within communities of color. Organizations should have a history of working with BIPOC communities and reflect those communities via board representation, staff, client services and/or neighborhood where services provided.
• Organization must have at least two years of experience (as of the due date of the application) providing relevant services.

FUNDING INFORMATION

• Federal Funding Source: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; TI-22-005)
• Award Ceiling: $15,000
• Budget: Submit an 8-month budget with an anticipated start date of 10/4/2022
• Project Period: 10/4/2022 – 6/30/2023
• Cost Sharing/Match Requirement: No
• Service Delivery Data: To begin no later than 30 days from receipt of contract.
• Reporting Requirements: Awardees must submit quarterly progress reports that capture data related to performance measures identified in their contracts and financial reports detailing project expenditures.

Electronic applications will be accepted from August 22, 2022 – September 30, 2022. Full applications must be submitted by September 30, 2022 at 11:59 pm for consideration. Nspire, in conjunction with KORE, will review and select applications submitted by eligible organizations. The selected organizations will be notified of award by mid-October 2022.

ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES

• Staff time to develop and implement project activities.
• Development and circulation of materials (e.g., printed educational materials).
• Implementation of a culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate stigma-reduction campaign.
• Community outreach and engagement to foster awareness and understanding related to opioid and stimulant use

NON-ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES

• Cannot supplant current funding of existing activities. “Supplant” is defined as replacing funding of a recipient’s existing program with funds from a federal grant.
• Cannot support non-evidence-based or evidence-informed treatment approaches.
• Meals are generally unallowable; however, funds can be used for light snacks.
• Out-of-state travel
• Pay for promotional items including, but not limited to, clothing and commemorative items such as pens, mugs/cups, folders/folios, lanyards, and conference bags
• Pay for the purchase or construction of any building or structure to house any part of the program
• Make direct payments to individuals to enter treatment or continue to participate in prevention or treatment services

MULTI-TIERED REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

Proposals will be screened to ensure minimum eligibility requirements have been met. Proposals meeting minimum eligibility requirements will be assessed by the Nspire and KORE review committee and funded on a competitive basis.

SCOPE OF WORK

Activities and materials developed through this grant opportunity must be related to opioids and stimulants, and should focus on one or more of the following:

• Increased understanding of OUD and StimUD (i.e., cocaine, methamphetamine) within BIPOC communities.
• Reduced community and individual stigma through increased recognition of the chronic nature of addiction.
• Increased knowledge of treatment resources, including MOUD, and recovery supports, how to access these services, and reducing stigma associated with seeking/utilizing these services.
• Increased knowledge of available harm reduction services, such as local Syringe Services Programs and fentanyl test strips, how to access these services, and reducing stigma associated with seeking/utilizing these services.
• Delivery of overdose education and naloxone distribution within BIPOC communities

Nspire will provide support to awarded organizations in order to help develop and implement project activities including messaging, materials, event planning and other proposed activities. Also, awarded organizations will participate in a learning collaborative along with other awardees, which will provide the opportunity to share experiences, successes and barriers, and foster collaboration.

CRITERIA

Possible Points:

1. Mandatory Submission Requirements: Pass/Fail
2. Project Narrative Evaluation Criteria

• Organization Overview = 30
• Population of Focus and Statement of Need = 10
• Proposed Project Activities = 50
• Sustainability = 5
• Evaluation Process = 5

Total points possible for technical proposal = 100

Mandatory Submission Requirements

1. Project abstract/summary of proposal. (The abstract is a summary of the grant proposal and highlights the most important components of the proposed project. It should state the population(s) to be served, strategies/activities, project goals and measurable objectives)
2. Project Narrative
3. Detailed Budget Worksheet and Narrative using template provided at http://www.parkcommunity.com/nspire/ under Grant Application Resources. Download and fill-out the Detailed Budget Worksheet located at http://www.parkcommunity.com/nspire/; then upload it with your application.
4. Copy of the 501(c ) IRS letter indicating non-profit status.

An Application Help Guide can be found here: http://www.parkcommunity.com/nspire/ under Grant Application Resources. (Or click here for direct access to the Application Help Guide.)

All materials must be submitted via the online application system at https://parkcommunity.academicworks.com/opportunities/118.

Please submit questions regarding proposals to Andrea Brown, KORE Project Leader, Andrea.Brown@parkcommunity.com.