Opioid Abatement Grant

Help is on the way for Rogers County residents dealing with the negative impacts of opioid addiction. That help extends to county service providers, too.

 Rogers County officials has been awarded approximately $506,000 in grant funding to address an ongoing opioid crisis throughout the county during a state-level Opioid Abatement Board meeting.

This comes after the Rogers County Board of County Commissioners submitted a joint application in March with the city of Claremore for $506,158 to the Oklahoma Attorney General. The  Oklahoma Opioid Grant Award process has involved months of preliminary discussions, needs assessments, planning and engaging partnerships.

This funding will allow County Officials to put professionals in place to implement a plan focused on prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.

By pursuing these funds together, the city-county must follow strategies and guidelines, defined by the Oklahoma Attorney General, for supporting individuals struggling with addiction and focusing on prevention and community education efforts.

This city-county collaboration brings an opportunity for continued funding over the next 15 years.

The funding will allow employment of personnel who will enact a comprehensive multilevel approach to prevent opioid misuse, enhance early intervention programs, expand access to treatment services and support individuals in long-term recovery.

The grant provides for a project manager, which is a crucial step toward effectively using the grant and ensuring the initiatives are conducted with professionalism, efficiency, and expertise of the support services. A court liaison, GED instructor, parenting educator and personnel supporting women in recovery will round out the services to be offered.

Overall, the project aims to establish a well-connected network of resources and referrals to provide a coordinated response to those in need of support.

There will be ongoing collaboration among key community stakeholders, including law enforcement, district attorney's office/criminal justice partners, youth-serving organizations, mental health and substance abuse agencies, and community organizations.

Commissioner Ron Burrows of District 3, who also serves on the committee, is leading the way in this joint venture with the City of Claremore for the non-litigated funds.