18 Feb Funding Alert! Grants for First Responders Comprehensive Addiction
Department of Health and Human Services – SAMHSA
Attention first responders and community officials addressing addiction and recovery in their communities! The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is accepting proposals for its First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Grants to support first responders and members of key community sectors addressing opioid overdose with emergency reversal drugs and devices through SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). As a component of the HHS, SAMHSA leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. The overall goal of the First Responders program is to provide resources to first responders other legally recognized volunteer organizations to train, carry, and administer Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) approved drugs and devices for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, federally recognized American Indian/Alaskan Native tribes, tribal organizations, and local government entities including, but not limited to, municipal corporations, counties, cities, and townships.
For this program, first responders include firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, mobile crisis providers, or other legally organized and recognized volunteer organizations that respond to adverse opioid-related incidents.
What is the program goal?
The purpose of this program is to allow first responders and members of other key community sectors to administer a drug or device approved or cleared under the FD&C Act for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose. Recipients will train first responders and members of other key community sectors on carrying and administering a drug or device; provide resources and safety information for fentanyl, carfentanil, and other dangerous licit and illicit drugs; and establish processes, protocols, and mechanisms for referral to appropriate treatment and recovery support services. The program requires the following activities:
- Applicants must indicate the total number of unduplicated individuals that will be trained each year of the grant and over the total project period, with the expectation grantees will meet these numbers;
- Train, provide resources, and make available FD&C Act approved devices and drugs to be carried and administered by first responders and members of other key community sectors for emergency reversal of known or suspected opioid overdose;
- Establish processes, protocols, and mechanisms for referral to appropriate treatment and recovery support services, with the option to include support for an outreach coordinator or network; and
- For applications proposing to serve rural communities, identification of a catchment area following SAMHSA’s Guidelines for Selecting Communities of High Need that is both a specific, geographically defined area not located in a metropolitan statistical area and has been disproportionately impacted by opioid use.
The funder expects to award 21 grants for up to 48 months with a total award amount of $800,000. The total available funding pool is approximately $12 million. Applicants may submit more than one application; however, each must focus on a different population or geographic area. The program does not require a cost-share or matching funds.
The full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) outlines allowable activities including, but not limited to:
- Collaboration with health care providers to educate them on overdose dangers and resources for treatment and recovery;
- Facilitation of immediate overdose follow-up support, access to fentanyl test strips, tobacco cessation program development and implementation, and cultural competency and implicit bias reduction training to service providers;
- Facilitation of field initiation of low-threshold buprenorphine or other appropriate medication intended to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms and overdose death and initiate the individual into treatment; and
- Development of infrastructure such as partnerships with service providers, computer and management information systems enhancement, electronic health records, and staff training relating to new systems.
The proposal deadline is coming up quickly on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
What makes a project a good fit?
The SAMHSA First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Support Services requires applicants to be registered with NIH’s eRA Commons, a process that takes up to six weeks. In addition, programs must have a project director with an active eRA Commons account affiliated with the organization. This opportunity is a good fit for state or local government offices and tribal governments of communities with documented disproportional impacts of opioid use and overdose.
What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:
- Review the full solicitation for additional details and project activities.
- Check out the SAMHSA grants page, which includes news updates, a resource page with helpful resources for opioid overdose prevention including toolkits, directories, and strategies, a list of previously awarded grants by program and state, and other helpful information.
- Watch the SAMHSA Applicant Webinar for information on how to submit applications.
- Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and be sure you have a Grants.gov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://sam.gov/content/status-tracker.
What if I need help with this application?
Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.
What if I am not ready to apply this year?
Start preparing for next year! SAMHSA has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The office’s website has ample resources, webinars, and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities.
How do I learn more about federal grant proposal writing, so my application is more likely to be successful?
AGS is excited to offer a Federal Grants Training Series in 2022! The series is designed to support nonprofit leaders before and during the application process. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.
AGS blogs, funding alerts, and trainings are aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills
Competency #1: Knowledge of how to research, identify, and match funding resources to meet specific needs
Skill 1.2: Identify major trends in public funding and public policy
Skill 1.6: Identify fundable programs and projects for specific organization
Skill 1.7: Determine best matches between funders and specific programs