The Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants (OSPG) Program was established to distribute settlement funds received by the City of Jacksonville following its participation in lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids for their roles in the opioid crisis. According to the Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department:

• More than 3,339 Duval County residents died of an unintentional overdose death from 2016 to 2023.
• From 2018 to 2022, the rate of opioid overdose deaths in Duval County increased by 67%.
• In 2023, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) responded to an average of 240 opioid-related overdose calls each month. This measure has improved in the first half of 2024, with JFRD responding to an average of 177 opioid-related overdose calls each month over than time period. 

The OSPG Program contracts with eligible agencies and organizations performing services in Duval County who have been in operation for a minimum of three years providing services related to the prevention, treatment, and/or recovery support for those with opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder or mental health conditions. The selection process of OSPG awards is outlined in Ordinance 2023-350-E and evaluated by the Opioid and Substance Use Disorder (OSUD) Grants Committee.

OSUD Grants Committee

The OSUD Grants Committee’s goal is to distribute opioid settlement funds throughout the City of Jacksonville in a way that is equitable, efficient, and effective in order to combat the opioid crisis. The committee does so through the following activities:

• Review and assess the annual needs of the City for programs and services related to the opioid epidemic
• Review, evaluate, and score each Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grant application
• Participate in on-site evaluations of recipient programs
• Award and allocate the annual opioid settlement proceeds appropriation

The OSUD Grants Committee consists of seven voting members; the Mayor and City Council President each appoint one member from each of the following categories: mental health professional, peer specialist, and healthcare professional. The seventh voting member is the Health Administrator of the Florida Department of Health, Duval County, who is a continuous, standing member. Additionally, the City Council President annually appoints a City Council Member to serve as a liaison to the OSUD Grants Committee.

Committee Members 

City Council Liaison (non-voting member)
​Ronald Salem - City Council Member rsalem@coj.net 

Fiscal Year 2024-2025 OSPG Awards

FY 2024-2025 Opioid Settlement Proceeds Funded Categories
The OSUD Grants Committee assesses the needs of the community and recommends to the City Council the percentage of OSPG funds appropriated to be allocated to each of the funded categories: prevention, treatment, or recovery support. For the fiscal year 2024-2025, the allocation of funding to each funded category shall be:

Prevention - 34%
Treatment - 33%
​Recovery Support - 33%

Mandatory Application Workshops

Agencies interested in applying for an OSPG award for the FY 2024-2025 were required to attend one of two Mandatory Application Workshops. The purpose of this workshop is to provide interested agencies with information about eligibility, OSPG application, and application process. These workshops were held on April 25, 2024, and April 29, 2024. 

Tentative Timeline

• The application opened at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 and closed on Monday, July 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Requesting agencies submitted applications utilizing CyberGrants, an online platform, or in-person.  
• July 12, 2024 - July 19, 2024: Eligibility appeals period
• July 22, 2024: OSPG Appeals Board meeting to review appeals regarding eligibility notifications
• July 23, 2024 - August 23, 2024: OSUD Grants Committee scoring period
• August 23, 2024: Score sheets submitted to the Office of Opioid Abatement
• October 7, 2024: Announcement of tentative rankings of applications
• October 7, 2024 - October 14, 2024: Tentative rankings appeals period
• October 15, 2024: OSPG Appeals Board meeting to review appeals regarding tentative rankings 
• October 21, 2024: Announcement of finanl rankings of applications and funding allocations
• October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025: OSPG contracts effective

Fiscal Year 2023-2024 OSPG Awards

Awarded Programs

The following agencies and programs have been awarded an OSPG award for the FY 2023-2024 cycle:

Technical Assistance
If you have any questions regarding the Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants application process or contractual requirements, please contact Madelaine Zarou, Opioid Abatement Manager, at mazarou@coj.net or opioidabatement@coj.net or via phone at (904) 255-3312.

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