Community Access

Can I provide input on spending?

• 55% Opioid Abatement Fund share: Yes (not required). Though the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) is not required to seek public input on uses of this share, it has included dedicated public comment periods in most of its meetings,[1] typically at the end of each agenda.[2] Visit the OAA’s website to find upcoming meeting dates and see details from past meetings. The OAA’s Board of Directors is required to meet at least once annually,[3] but has met roughly twice per year since late 2021.[4] Individual committees of the OAA (e.g., Finance Committee, Grants Committee) also meet regularly, and the Grants Committee in particular has included public comment periods in its meetings as well.[5]

  • Public listening sessions. The OAA and the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards hosted public, town hall-style listening sessions around the state in late 2022 and early 2023. Feedback from these sessions was intended to inform the OAA’s funding priorities and grant decision making.[6]

  • Community needs assessment. The OAA partnered with the Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Research at Virginia Commonwealth University to issue a statewide survey for “healthcare, governmental, and community organizations.” The survey is designed to “identify gaps and barriers in the treatment system, the mismatch between outstanding needs and available resources, and opportunities to improve the quality and coordination of services.”[7]

• 30% local share: Up to each locality (not required). Local governments are not required to seek public input on uses of their shares. However, each may choose to seek such input. Watch for opportunities to weigh in on city and county spending decisions, such as city council meetings and town halls.

• 15% state share: No opportunities available (not required). The state has not established recurring opportunities for the public to provide input on uses of its 15% share.[8]

Can I apply for grants?

Yes. Visit the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority’s Grants Portal to see current opportunities from the 55% Opioid Abatement Fund share. Local governments may create grant programs to distribute funds from the 30% local share. The existence, parameters, and processes for local settlement grant programs will vary by locality, so stay alert for new opportunities. Visit the Opioid Settlement Community Grants Portal (OpioidSettlementTracker.com and Legal Action Center) for the most up-to-date information on settlement grant opportunities for community organizations.

Where do I go for updates?

• For updates on the Opioid Abatement Fund share, visit the OAA’s website, bookmark its News and Updates page, and subscribe to its email list.

• To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county’s board of supervisors, city council, or local health department.

• A single resource containing updates specific to the Commonwealth share could not be found.[9]

• You can also sign up for updates from Community Education Group’s Appalachian Opioid Remediation (AOR) Database, which tracks information about the 13 states of Appalachia, including Virginia.

What else should I know?

Not applicable.

Citations

1. The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) Finance Committee meetings generally do not include a public comment period. ↑

2. Past OAA Meetings. OAA website. Accessed September 1, 2024. See, e.g., the OAA’s June 14, 2024 Meeting Agenda. ↑

3. Va. Code Ann. Sec. 2.2-2367(E). See also Virginia Opioid Abatement Fund and Settlement Allocation Memorandum of Understanding Sec. C(2)(c) (VA Allocation MOU). August 20, 2021. ↑

4. Past OAA Meetings. OAA website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

5. See, e.g., the OAA Grants Committee’s August 2, 2024 Meeting Agenda. ↑

6. See “PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC ON COMMUNITIES IN VIRGINIA.” Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

7. See Virginia Opioid Abatement Community Needs Assessment Survey. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑

8. If you see this change, email [e-mail]. ↑

9. If you see this change, email [e-mail]. ↑