Overview: The Colorado Attorney General’s Office (the “AG”) was part of a national lawsuit suing pharmaceutical companies over the opioid epidemic, and each state was awarded Opioid Settlement Funds to abate individual, family & community consequences associated with the opioid epidemic. The AG’s office worked with local governments to develop regions in which the Opioid Settlement Funds would be disbursed. The guidelines for services that can be provided with the Opioid Settlement Funds come from the terms of the national opioid settlement. Colorado Opioid Settlement Funds will be distributed to 19 regions throughout Colorado, and two federally recognized Colorado tribes. The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) will provide oversight of the regional and infrastructure funds to ensure funds are used for Approved Purposes. Colorado Region 1 is comprised of five (5) counties in Northwest Colorado: Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt, Jackson and Grand Counties. There is a governing body, called the Northwest Colorado Opioid Region 1 (NWCOR1) Workgroup, which is the decision-maker over how the Opioid Settlement Funds will be distributed during this RFP process. Goals and Objectives: NWCOR1’s goals are to address prevention, treatment, and recovery needs for people at risk for or who are currently experiencing substance use disorder (SUD). During the first two years of funding NWCOR1 has determined funding efforts will focus on the areas of Youth Prevention of SUD & Professional Behavioral Health Supports. The region is mostly rural so access to services and resources for those affected by opioid addiction and abuse is the ultimate goal and objective. A priority for NWCOR1 is providing services in as many counties within Region 1 as possible. The region will utilize this RFP process to grant money to providers for prevention and education services related to the Opioid Epidemic. NWCOR1 is mindful of not duplicating behavioral health services but leveraging this funding to go further in all communities.
Statewide