BISMARCK – Local agencies are among recipients of the latest round of Opioid Settlement Fund grants announced by the North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Wednesday. These awards support efforts across North Dakota to prevent opioid misuse, expand access to treatment and recovery services and enhance the behavioral health workforce.

Grant recipients include:

– North Central Judicial District Drug Court (Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation), $48,000 to provide substance use disorder treatment services and coordination of care to individuals involved in the North Central Judicial District Drug Court in Minot.

– First District Health Unit, $162,882 to expand Syringe Service Program services to help individuals with a substance use disorder connect to treatment and recovery services in Minot.

– Ward County Detention Center, $224,655 to implement a Medication for Opioid Use Disorder treatment program at Ward County Detention Center, including screening, treatment referral, peer support and harm reduction education.

– Providence House Minot LLC, $390,000 to provide residential substance use disorder treatment services specifically serving pregnant and parenting women.

– Community Medical Services, $294,500 to expand access to peer-based recovery support to further strengthen engagement and retention in outpatient opioid treatment services across the North Dakota clinic locations.

– Rolette County Public Health District, $223,868 to implement a K-9 evidence-based substance use prevention curriculum and a media campaign to raise awareness, promote prevention and link individuals to local resources.

– MHA Sober Living Program, $264,129 to establish a dedicated, trauma-informed sober living facility for women on the Fort Berthold Reservation who are working to regain custody of their children.

In addition, the N.D. Training Academy for Addiction Professionals received $2.5 million to expand addiction counselor training. Goldfinch Health received $382,829 to partner with hospitals and medical professionals to implement post-surgery prescribing practices to prevent opioid misuse. USpireND Health Families North Dakota received $212,388 for a home visiting program for parents of children prenatally exposed to substances, or parents in recovery, incarcerated or newly released.

Other organizations receiving funding were Heartview Foundation, Dickinson; North Dakota State University ONE program; Family HealthCare, Cass County Jail in Fargo; Southwest Multi-County Correction Center; South Central Judicial District Drug Court; and Northeast Central Judicial District Drug Court.

Each funded project will begin July 1 under a 24-month contract period.

The current grant cycle follows North Dakota’s continued participation in national opioid settlements with manufacturers and distributors, according to HHS. The state is projected to receive about $60 million over 18 years, which must be used in alignment with national settlement guidelines to address the impact of the opioid crisis.