More than a dozen agencies across North Dakota received grant funding in January, totaling over $7 million from the North Dakota Opioid Settlement Fund (OSF) Grant. These funds have been instrumental in supporting implementation of prevention, early intervention, treatment and recovery initiatives, as well as enhancing the state's behavioral health workforce. Over the past six months, nearly 900 North Dakotans have benefited from programs and services funded by these grants.
“We are encouraged by the positive impact these funds have made in addressing the behavioral health needs of North Dakotans,” said North Dakota Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, who chairs the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. “In just six months, the work of the grant recipients is already driving meaningful change and improving lives.”
Following are six-month updates on grant-funded projects:
FARGO
Sanford Medical Center - $397,430
Sanford Medical Center Fargo has significantly expanded its opioid use disorder treatment capabilities. Fifteen prescribers have been trained on best practices for prescribing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Two new providers have started prescribing MOUD, bringing the total to three prescribers. The center is also making progress toward becoming a licensed Substance Use Disorder Treatment program.
GRAND FORKS
Community Medical Services - $452,389
This Opioid Treatment Program has served an additional 22 individuals with opioid treatment services.
MINOT
Endeavor Sober Living - $535,000
Endeavor Sober Living has established a recovery house in Minot, which has served 14 individuals demonstrating the recovery house's positive impact on its residents.
First District Health Unit - $66,681
The Syringe Service Program added three additional hours per week. The unit provided services to 13 new individuals and referred 10 individuals to substance use treatment or medical care. Additionally, it reported improvement in substance use for five individuals, improvement in employment status for 11 individuals and improvement in housing situation for five individuals. Overall, 140 individuals have enrolled in the program.
COURT TREATMENT SERVICES
GRAND FORKS - Northeast Central Judicial District Drug Court, North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, $54,000
WAHPETON - Richland County Treatment Court, $134,000
Collectively, these two entities provided treatment services to 11 new individuals, supported improvement in employment status for 12 individuals and improvement in housing situations for nine individuals.
STATEWIDE
North Dakota State University Opioid and Naloxone Education (ONE) Program - $82,537
The NDSU ONE Program hosted and discussed collaborative work with tribal health directors and installed 76 Be the ONE boxes in tribal communities. These include video and audio recordings on how to administer Narcan and two doses of Narcan.
Training Academy of Addiction Professionals/Heartview Foundation - $613,002
Since February, the Training Academy of Addiction Professionals, operated by Heartview Foundation, has established four new licensed addiction counselor (LAC) training sites. The program has added 14 new LAC clinical supervisors and is supporting 10 LAC trainees with paid internships. Notably, eight individuals have graduated as LACs or licensed master addiction counselors, with five receiving licenses to practice in North Dakota.
USpireND – Healthy Families North Dakota - $130,075
USpireND's Healthy Families North Dakota program has supported 78 families across the state since March, including 11 families involving individuals who are incarcerated. Services have reached Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Dickey, Grand Forks, Hettinger, Morton, Stark and Stutsman counties.
Community Connect- $3.9 million
Through 49 local providers, Community Connect has provided funding for recovery support services for an additional 614 individuals throughout the state.
“We are encouraged by the transformative work being done in our communities to provide access to treatment and support services,” said Director of North Dakota Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Division Pamela Sagness. “As the state continues to receive opioid settlement funds over the next 18 years, we are committed to ensuring North Dakotans have access to treatment and recovery services.”
North Dakota is actively participating in national opioid settlements and has received approximately $19 million to date, with an expected $60 million more over the next 18 years.
Using recommendations from the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, the HHS Behavioral Health Division created the OSF Grant and accepted applications for the grant from Nov. 20, 2023, to Dec. 22, 2023. The funds awarded by the grant must be expended before June 30, 2025.
The Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee was established as a requirement for the state to receive and spend opioid remediation settlement funds, received through court-approved settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, to address and remediate the public health crisis caused by the opioid epidemic. The Committee is responsible for providing input and making recommendations regarding specific opioid remediation or abatement priorities, and expenditures for the use of opioid remediation funds on approved opioid remediation uses, to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Committee consists of six voting members, three of whom are appointed by the chairman of legislative management, three who are representatives of state agencies, and one non-voting chairperson who is appointed by the Governor.
For more information on programs and resources provided by ND HHS, visit hhs.nd.gov.