City and County Officials
Brave, passionate local leadership is integral to abating the opioid epidemic in Arkansas. To help you address the opioid epidemic in your jurisdiction, ARORP has partnered with CADCA to create a streamlined training for city and county officials. Learn ways to fund and lead efforts that are proven to reduce the spread of opioid and other substance use disorders.
FAQs from City and County Officials
How will funding reach cities and counties?
Arkansas received master settlement funding from the National Prescription Opiate Litigation. The settlement funding will be split evenly between Arkansas cities, counties, and the state. The cities (represented by the Arkansas Municipal League) and the counties (represented by Arkansas Association of Counties) came together to create the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership to distribute settlement funds to opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery projects that will abate the opioid epidemic. The settlement funding can only be used for certain purposes. Exhibit E, found at www.arorp.org/funding-opportunities/, specifies exactly how settlement funds must be used. Thus, organizations who are seeking to create or expand a project in opioid prevention, treatment, or recovery can apply to ARORP for funding. The ARORP Advisory Board will use Exhibit E to evaluate each proposal that comes in. The funding is meant to be startup money; the money is not meant to replace or supplant existing funding.
Why do applicants need the signature of the mayor(s)/city officials(s) and county judge(s)?
Because ARORP settlement funds are owned by Arkansas cities and counties, mayor(s) and county judge(s)’s approval is critical for the application process. We want to know if the individuals applying are in good standing in the community and if city and county leadership are interested in having this type of project in their community.
How much should you know about an applicant’s project before signing?
We advise applicants to reach out to city officials, mayors, and judges, to inform them about their project. You should not approve the project without a clear understanding of what the organization is attempting to do.
What if you do not know anything about the applicant group?
Reach out to others in the sector you are familiar with, and see if they have any input. If you are not able to find anything about the organization, then simply use your best judgement. We want your input, but we have a significant vetting process for each applicant.
What kinds of projects will be accepted?
There are several categories of proposals applicants can submit. The general proposal allows flexibility for applicants to submit any project related to opioid prevention, treatment, and/or recovery. We want them to assess their community’s needs and submit a proposal to address existing gaps in services. There are three other proposal categories: Naloxone Community Hero, Coalition Partnership Empowerment, and Overdose Response Team. Please note that naloxone provided through ARORP cannot be sold or provided to first responders or harm reduction groups. First responders may contact the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute for training.
