In 2024, members of Stronger Together Coalition selected the priorities that addressed the needs identified by the community. This includes those with lived experience, those who serve this population, substance use prevention coalitions, and feedback from community members through assessments, focused conversations, and key informant interviews.
The community feedback identified prevention and treatment as the top priorities to dedicate spending of the Opioid Settlement Funds within Faribault & Martin Counties.
There are 126 strategies that were determined by John's Hopkins University to address the opioid epidemic and strengthen communities to both prevent substance use and treat opioid and substance use disorders. Of those, the top three treatment and prevention priorities were identified by community members from each county. There are some similarities between Faribault & Martin Counties. The differences reflect each county's unique needs.
During the first-round grantees represented youth & young adult prevention coalitions and programs that serve families working through the justice system, through treatment, and in recovery. Funding was provided to:
- FariCARES for work with their youth prevention coalition,
- Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) for work with their youth prevention coalition,
- Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties to support a recovery peer specialist working with families in child protection services,
- Healing Hearts to support a peer recovery program, and
- Youth First, Inc,. to support and a unique blend of treatment and prevention programming (Celebrating Families) offered to families working through the Martin County Justice System through a partnership with Fairmont Public School District.
There is an estimated $183,584 available to request for work conducted in Faribault County and $205,227 available to request for work conducted in Martin County. Projects are currently capped at $24,000 per county.
Additional Project Ideas:
In addition to prevention and treatment opportunities identified above, the following needs were also elevated as top priorities during the assessment process:
- Addressing access to services, insurance and coverage
- Supporting development of transportation opportunities for people to get to activities that support the treatment and recovery process
- Providing support to people to prevent relapse after corrections involvement.
More information about this grant opportunity can be found by visiting: Opioid Settlement Funds