• Settlement funding was used to create the Opioid Overdose Prevention Coordinator role within the Chatham County Public Health Department. The coordinator facilitates the Sheriff's Prevention Partnership and oversees the county's overdose prevention efforts. 
• $139,500 allocated

• Medical and administrative staff from Piedmont Health Services and Chatham Recovery are active members in the planning and implementation of efforts to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder and alleviate barriers to care.
• $55,000 allocated

• Featuring community representation from courts, social services, recovery support groups and people with lived experience, this strategy improves transportation access for people in recovery (including re-entry programs). This strategy also supports educational events to build a recovery community in Chatham County.
  • $50,000 allocated

• Evidence-based interventions and support are provided for youth struggling with, or at risk for, substance use. Support for families is also offered.
• $20,000 allocated

• The Chatham County Public Health Department expanded their Naloxone Education and Distribution program using settlement funding. Because of this funding, more people in Chatham have access to Naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses.
• $100,000 allocated

Overview of the Opioid Settlement Funding Process

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approves an annual funding plan prior to the start of each fiscal year taking into account recommendations from the Sheriff’s Prevention Partnership on Controlled Substances (SPPCS). 

Based on the approved funding plan, Opioid Settlement funds may be made available to private non-profit organizations or businesses to carry out work related to an approved strategy. For external organizations to request this funding, the following process will be followed. 

1. Requests for Applications (RFA) for Funding 

When funds are available for organizations to carry out work related to one of the approved strategies, an announcement will be posted on this webpage and shared with potential applicants. The announcement will include instructions on how to apply for funding along with the amount of funding available, the specified strategy, the application, deadlines, and any additional details about eligible proposals.

 2. Application Review Process

Chatham County Public Health Department staff will screen all applications to ensure they are complete (i.e., they include all the required information and documentation), that they are eligible, and that they have complied with basic RFA requirements. Incomplete and/or ineligible applications will not be reviewed until any issues are resolved. Chatham County Public Health Department County may follow up with an applicant for any clarifications or to request required information that is missing. 

A review committee from the SPPCS will score each application using the established scoring criteria. Any potential reviewers with a conflict of interest or who are affiliated with an organization applying for funds from the specified strategy will not be included on the review committee.  

At their option, the review committee may request additional information from any or all applicants for the purpose of clarification or to amplify the materials presented in any part of the application. However, agencies and organizations are cautioned that reviewers are not required to request clarification. Therefore, all applications should be complete and reflect the most favorable terms available from the agency or organization.  

The review committee will make a recommendation to the SPPCS Coordinating Committee, which will make the final determination for allocating funds.

3. Notification to Applicants 

Chatham County Public Health Department staff will notify all applicants of whether or not they will receive funding. For any funded applicants, Chatham County Public Health Department staff will work with them to execute contracts, establish reporting metrics and deadlines, clarify payment processes, and provide any additional information on funding requirements.