The Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recovery Fund (WOARF) will receive $41 million over the course of the next 20 years to respond to the opioid epidemic, and will be distributed through the Washoe County Community Reinvestment Program.
A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be released on May 15, 2024, to distribute the initial $4.5 million received. There were top five priorities identified in the Washoe County Opioid Use Community Needs Assessment 2023-2025. The funds will be disbursed through the Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recover Fund (WOARF) managed by the Office of the County Manager, Community Reinvestment Division according to the WOARF Plan.
The five priorities are:
- Ensure funding for the array of opioid use disorder treatment services for uninsured and underinsured Washoe county residents.
- Initiating buprenorphine in the emergency department, as well as during inpatient hospital stays, and care navigators to assist with setting up outpatient resources for continued care and management.
- Use a multidisciplinary approach to providing overdose prevention outreach and education, inclusive of under resourced communities, such as BIPOC communities, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner (organizations, media, churches).
- Implement child welfare best practices for supporting families impacted by substance use.
- Increase detoxification and short-term rehabilitation program capacity.
The NOFO and future updates about the use of the WOARF dollars will be shared on the WOARF website: https://www.washoecounty.gov/mgrsoff/divisions/Community%20Reinvestment/WOARF/index.php
Grants will be evaluated based on eligible uses under the litigation settlement agreements and One Nevada Agreement and alignment with the WOARF values adapted from Johns Hopkins Principles for the Use of Funds from the Opioid Litigation and Substance Abuse and Menal Health Services Administration Definition and Principles of Recovery. Additional points and considerations will be made to applications that partner or collaborate with existing Washoe County.
Washoe County Community Reinvestment Program will provide more detailed guidelines and instructions on the May 15th release date and during the May 22nd Application Webinar. To register for the Application Webinar, click here.
If you have any questions regarding the grant solicitation, don’t hesitate to contact WOARF@washoecounty.gov.
