The Washoe Opioid Abatement and Recovery Fund (WOARF) will receive $29 million over the course of the next 17 years to respond to the opioid epidemic. As of January 2026, Washoe County has received $10.9 million.
A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be released on March 1, 2026, to distribute $3 million to four of the priorities identified in the 2026-2027 Funding Plan. 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.
Priority 1: Provide mobile health care clinics that include comprehensive health and dental care for people who use or are at risk of using opioids
Activities:
Expand access to mobile, integrated health care units that provide evidence-based substance use treatment, physical and behavioral health care, and comprehensive dental services to individuals with or at risk of OUD, ensuring linkage to ongoing recovery supports and services to minimize morbidity and mortality.
Priority 2: Expand housing services to support people with OUD across the continuum of use that include comprehensive wrap-around and tenancy supports
Activities:
Increase the availability of low-barrier recovery housing and sober living environments that incorporate tenancy stabilization services, case management, peer recovery support, and connections to treatment and employment, ensuring equitable access for people in all stages of recovery from OUD.
Priority 3: Create peer-led mental health supports to prevent burnout among peer workers, providers, and professionals working in the field
Activities:
Strengthen and sustain the behavioral health and peer recovery workforce through peer-led support and wellness initiatives. Establish peer-led wellness and mental health support initiatives to prevent burnout, promote resilience, and improve retention among peer recovery specialists, treatment providers, and frontline professionals working in OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
Priority 4: 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)
Activities:
Mitigate morbidity and mortality related to substance use through prevention outreach and education.
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 March 1st release date and during the March 10th Application Webinar. To register for the Application Webinar: Register Here.
If you have any questions regarding the grant solicitation, don’t hesitate to contact WOARF@washoecounty.gov
To stay informed of updates regarding WOARF, please sign up for our listserv: https://www.washoecounty.gov/mgrsoff/divisions/Community%20Reinvestment/WOARF/index.php
