Community Access
Last updated
Virginia
Last updated
55% Opioid Abatement Fund share: Yes (not required). Though the (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 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 s 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 at Virginia Commonwealth University to issue a for “healthcare, governmental, and community organizations.” The 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]
Yes. Visit the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority’s 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 (OpioidSettlementTracker.com and Legal Action Center) for the most up-to-date information on settlement grant opportunities for community organizations.
For updates on the Opioid Abatement Fund share, visit the OAA’s , bookmark its page, and .
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 from Community Education Group’s , which tracks information about the 13 states of Appalachia, .
Not applicable.
The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) Finance Committee meetings generally do not include a public comment period. ↑
. OAA website. Accessed September 1, 2024. See, e.g., the OAA’s . ↑
Va. Code Ann. Sec. 2.2-2367(E). See also (VA Allocation MOU). August 20, 2021. ↑
. OAA website. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
See, e.g., the OAA Grants Committee’s . ↑
See “.” Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
See . Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑
If you see this change, email . ↑
If you see this change, email . ↑
