Specifications include, but are not limited to: Strategy One: Strengthen the ability to collect, analyze, and apply data This strategy allows applicants to propose activities that strengthen their ability to collect, analyze, and apply local data, as well as translate local, regional, state data (quantitative and qualitative) into action. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed activities contribute to at least one of the following outcomes: Increased understanding of local context, resources, and needs in the community. Identification of highest risk groups. Activities proposed under this strategy must build the applicant’s capacity to collect and utilize data to assess local context, inform programming and evaluation, enhance community partnerships, and mobilize resources. Activities that may be funded within this strategy include but are not limited to: Developing or enhancing efforts to collect community-level data in order to document local context. Developing or enhancing capacity to share data with a variety of audiences to inform action. Developing or enhancing approaches to collecting, analyzing, and reporting qualitative data. Centering the voices of those most impacted in participatory data collection and analysis to advance health equity. PLEASE NOTE: The implementation of Overdose Fatality Reviews is not an allowable activity under this RFA. There is a separate application process to receive funding to initiate or continue doing Overdose Fatality Reviews that will be available in January 2020. Strategy Two: Provide linkages to care Linkages to care are the bridges that connect the work of public health with that of other agencies and partners. Connections or linkages to care may be viewed as the vehicle by which one system meaningfully coordinates with another. This is an opportunity to leverage systems and upstream prevention effort to ensure that people are connected with the care they need. Partners from a broad range of practices and disciplines can become a part of linkage to care efforts. Applicants are encouraged to broaden their thinking and to innovate around what linkages to care may look like. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed activities contribute to at least one of the following outcomes: Increased awareness and coordination of linkages to care. Increased referrals to and engagement in evidence-based treatment. Activities that may be funded within this strategy include but are not limited to: Efforts to increase awareness of area service providers and current treatment space/capacity. Outreach and corollary services that are attached with syringe services programs. Please note the purchase of syringes is not authorized by this funding. Case management systems to help individuals navigate the processes by which care may be procured. Using technology to facilitate connections to care. Strategy Three: Build partnerships with public safety and first responders Public safety partners play a critical role in responding to opioid overdoses and should be engaged in prevention efforts aimed at reducing opioid-related morbidity, mortality, and associated harms. This domain is an opportunity for applicants to either develop new partnerships, or build upon existing partnerships, with public safety entities. For the purposes of this funding opportunity, public safety entities include police and public safety and first responder agencies, courts and corrections, as well as fire and paramedic/emergency services. There are two broad types of partnerships, and applicants can choose to engage in one or both types: 1) data sharing and 2) programmatic partnerships to advance evidence-based strategies. Public safety partnerships that incorporate both data and programming are strongly encouraged. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed activities contribute to at least one of the following outcomes: Improved coordination of public health and public safety efforts. Use of shared data to inform collaborative public health/public safety prevention and response activities. Greater jurisdictional awareness of opioid overdose epidemic and evidence-based approaches by public safety and first responder partners. Improved utilization of evidence-based approaches to prevention, intervention and referral to treatment. Activities that may be funded within this strategy include but are not limited to: Collaborate with High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Overdose Detection Mapping Application (ODMAP). Implement other systems that utilize arrest and/or seizure data to identify the possibility of a spike in overdose and to inform response and communication protocols within specific communities. Pre-arrest or pre-trial diversion, which use interactions with public safety and first responders as an opportunity to refer individuals with substance use disorder to treatment and other forms of care. Naloxone training and awareness, resource mapping and tracking. Again, note that these funds may not be used for purchase of naloxone. Developing partnerships among public safety and first responders and school and/or community partners to connect individuals and families at risk with necessary prevention resources. PLEASE NOTE: For programmatic activities, public safety partnerships should focus on linkages to care and/or risk reduction. All proposed work in this domain must include a strong public health component and cannot simply address public safety and first responders or criminal justice responses (e.g., those that focus solely on upholding social control, mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws, with a primary focus on areas such as policing, arrest, trial, or sentencing). The implementation of Overdose Fatality Reviews is not an allowable activity under this RFA. There is a separate application process to receive funding to initiate or continue doing Overdose Fatality Reviews that will be available in January 2020.