By Katherine Zuk, Program Manager, North Carolina, Overdose Prevention Program (OPP)
The central goal of Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program is to advance an equitable and sustainable reduction in fatal overdoses in the U.S. states where we work. Pursuing this goal requires that we address the sharply elevated risks of death that historically oppressed communities are facing in the midst of this crisis.
The new grant opportunity prioritizes Black-, Indigenous-, and Latine-led community organizations in North Carolina to expand or launch overdose prevention and harm reduction work!
Vital Strategies has posted a call for applications and will award up to $1,000,000 in total funding to organizations in North Carolina through a series of community grants over the next two years. Applicants will receive annual awards of $25,000 or $50,000, in addition to training and technical assistance for developing and sustaining overdose prevention programming, deepening knowledge in harm reduction, and building organizational capacity.
The trend in overdose deaths in North Carolina mirrors national trends. Overdose deaths increased 40% overall from 2019 to 2020, but the rate of increase among Indigenous, Black and Latine people was far higher—at 93%, 66% and 65%, respectively. Across the country, stigma, punishment and inequitable access to resources intensify the overdose crisis for marginalized populations, while rates of fatal overdose are slowing and even declining for others.
Solutions for preventing overdose deaths must include resources provided directly to the communities who have for so long experienced the discriminatory impacts of a destructive war on drugs. Moreover, we know that efforts to reduce overdose in marginalized communities will have the greatest impact when they are developed, delivered and led by organizations that represent those communities.
Groups interested in learning more about this grant opportunity should review the following documents:
- Informational one-pager about the grant opportunity
- Application for the grant
- Webinar on September 26th at 2pm ET for more information
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths. Work across seven U.S. states is supported by funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Overdose Prevention Initiative, launched in 2018, and by targeted investments from other partners.
Learn more here.