(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced the availability $4 million in substance abuse grants over the next two years as part of the Ohio Deflection and Pre-Arrest Diversion Grant Program, administered by the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS).
“Helping those with substance abuse issues with recovery is an important strategy to reduce crime and the stress it places on our corrections system,” Gov. DeWine said. “These grants will allow local communities challenged by high overdose rates to develop, expand, or enhance substance use deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs, to identify, treat, and support those impacted by the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances.”
Eligible applicants can use grant funds to support law enforcement and other first responder deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs in varying ways, including but not limited to:
- funding deflection and pre-arrest diversion program staff;
- embedding licensed social workers and certified peer supporters into deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs;
- legal review of policies and procedures;
- purchasing naloxone and fentanyl test strips for first responders’ use and distribution;
- supporting the use of data for real-time and comprehensive planning and response to overdoses and emerging drug trends;
- supporting drug take-back programs as part of an array of outreach services;
- supporting specialized services for underserved and/or high-risk populations;
- transportation programs and other basic needs or services that serve grant objectives; and
- providing recovery support services, including peer recovery.
Projects may propose to use grant funds to support innovative approaches that are evidenced-based and responsive to the needs of the community. Funding must be used to support one or more of the six pathways of deflection and pre-arrest diversion, as described by the Police, Treatment, and Community Collaborative (PTACC) here.
In October 2023, OCJS was awarded these grant funds through the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The goal of the COSSUP program is to reduce the impact of the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities.
The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. By statute, OCJS is the lead justice planning and assistance office for the state, administering millions of dollars in state and federal criminal justice funding every year.
For more information on the RFP, click here.