WORCESTER—In a push to combat the ongoing opioid crisis, the city is offering grants of up to $50,000 each to 10 local nonprofits.
The initiative seeks to partner with organizations addressing substance use disorder through prevention, harm reduction, care access, and recovery support. By joining forces with the RIZE Foundation, the city said in an announcement that it is aiming to expand life-saving interventions, all tied to the Massachusetts State Sub-Division Agreement for Statewide Opioid Settlements.
City Manager Eric D. Batista expressed hope in the collaboration: “This is a great opportunity for local nonprofits to enhance their intervention efforts and save more lives,” he said in a press release. “We’re committed to supporting our community in the battle against opioid-related deaths.”
The city’s match-funding depends on whether applicants are awarded grants from the RIZE Foundation, a Boston-based organization focused on ending the opioid overdose crisis. Nonprofits must be Worcester-based or serve the city and need to submit their project proposals by Nov. 1, 2024.
Eligible projects could range from prevention strategies such as education and outreach to harm reduction efforts, such as expanding access to naloxone, a life-saving overdose reversal drug. The funding aligns with best practices and leverages the resources made available through statewide opioid settlements, ensuring that organizations are well-equipped to make a measurable impact.
The opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the nation, and Worcester is no exception. The crisis has only deepened during recent years, with an increase in overdose deaths fueled by potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. The city’s efforts aim to address both immediate harm and long-term recovery needs. From increasing care access to fortifying recovery support, the focus is on a broad range of critical services.
Nonprofits interested in applying for these matching funds must submit their proposals through the Department of Health & Human Services. Alex Arriaga, Deputy Commissioner of Health & Human Services, is leading the application process, ensuring that funding is directed toward the most effective and innovative programs.
This partnership comes at a time when community-based solutions are vital in tackling the multi-faceted opioid crisis. Whether by reducing overdoses or providing pathways to recovery, the city hopes to empower local organizations that are at the forefront of this fight. By offering matching grants, Worcester aims to further strengthen the region’s response to one of its most pressing public health challenges.
Organizations can find more details and submit their proposals via the Health & Human Services webpage.
News releases? Info? Tips? Editor Charlene Arsenault can be reached at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
