Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grants Program
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 improved significantly in 2024, with JFRD responding to an average of 153 opioid-related overdose calls each month that year. In 2025, this measure continued to improve with JFRD responding to an average of 111 opioid-related overdose calls each month that year.
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 Chapter 84, Ordinance Code, 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
- Recommend assigned percentage of funding for each funded category - prevention, treatment, and recovery support
- Review, evaluate, and score each Opioid Settlement Proceeds Grant application
- 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
| Member Name | Role | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Antonio Nichols | Chair | Health Administrator, Florida Department of Health, Duval County |
| Sarah Smith | Vice-Chair | Peer Specialist |
| Heather Rios | Secretary | Peer Specialist |
| Dr. Lantie Jorandby | Member | Healthcare Professional |
| Debbie O'Neal | Member | Mental Health Professional |
| Nancy St. Claire | Member | Mental Health Professional |
| Dr. John Tanner | Member | Healthcare Professional |
City Council Liaison (non-voting member)
Ronald Salem - City Council Member, At-Large, Group 2
rsalem@coj.net
OSPG Program Staff
Madelaine A. Zarou - Manager of Opioid Abatement
mazarou@coj.net
Laura Viafora Ray - Program Coordinator of Opioid Abatement
lvray@coj.net
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 OSPG Program
FY 26-27 Timeline (all dates are tentative and subject to change)
May 14, 2026: Mandatory Application Workshop
May 20, 2026: Mandatory Application Workshop
June 1, 2026: Application opens
July 1, 2026: Application closes
July 21, 2026: Tentative OSPG Appeals Board Meeting
July 27, 2026 - August 28, 2026: Scoring period
October 5, 2026: Tentative application rankings and funding allocations announcement
October 14, 2026: Tentative OSPG Appeals Board Meeting
October 19, 2026: Final application rankings and funding allocations announcement
October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2027: Grant period
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 OSPG Program
FY 25-26 Timeline
May 15, 2025: Mandatory Application Workshop
May 21, 2025: Mandatory Application Workshop
June 2, 2025: Application opened
July 1, 2025: Application closed
July 18, 2025: OSPG Appeals Board Meeting
July 29, 2025 - August 29, 2025: Scoring period
October 6, 2025: Tentative application rankings and funding allocations announcements
October 21, 2025: OSPG Appeals Board Meeting
October 30, 2025: Final application rankings and funding allocations announcements
October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026: Grant period
FY 25-26 Awarded Programs
The below programs are active from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
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