The purpose of this RFP is to fund eligible organizations to implement evidence-based, high-impact strategies to address the opioid epidemic in Cumberland County, North Carolina. In addition, this RFP builds capacity and local infrastructure to respond to the overdose crisis in Cumberland County, North Carolina. The goal of the RFP is to reduce overdose deaths, emergency department visits for overdose, and illicit opioid involvement. This RFP builds on the success of Option A pilot projects currently being implemented in the 2023-2025 and 2024-2026 cycles. As a result of the opioid settlement, Cumberland County government is set to receive $31,613,831.42 over an 18-year period. Before spending settlement funds, every local county or municipality must first select which opioid mitigation strategies they would like to fund. Under Option A of the MOA, a local government may fund one or more strategies from a shorter list of evidence-based, high-impact strategies to address the epidemic. In November 2024, the Cumberland County Commissioners approved the utilization of $4,000,000 to fund up to five multi-year (four-years) pilot projects that align with Option A Strategies. These strategies include: Early intervention (Option A Strategy 6) Evidence-based addiction treatment for the uninsured and underinsured (Option A Strategy 2) Programs to support people in treatment and recovery (Option A Strategies 3, 4,5 and 12) o Recovery support services o Recovery housing o Employment-related services o Reentry services Criminal justice diversion programs (Option A Strategy 10)
