# Community Access ### **Can I provide input on spending?** * **72.5% West Virginia First Foundation share: Not… yet?** **(required)** The Foundation’s [Public Access Policy](https://wvfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Public-Access-Policy-West-Virginia-First-Foundation-20240202.pdf) requires its Board of Directors to provide an opportunity for public comments and questions at each of its regular quarterly meetings, with each speaker being given no more than 5 minutes.\[1] However, as of September 1, 2024, the Foundation’s Board [meetings](https://wvfirst.org/meeting-minutes/) have not yet included any dedicated public comment periods.\[2] Upcoming meeting dates of the Board and information to attend virtually are available on the Foundation’s [website](https://wvfirst.org/). * **Regional expert panels.** Expert panels, established to provide input and recommendations on spending and review grant proposals from their designated region, are also required to “engage with the public of their Region quarterly to identify concerns and funding priorities.”\[3] * **24.5% 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.\[4] Watch for opportunities to weigh in on city and county spending decisions, such as city council meetings and town halls. ### **Can I apply for grants?** **Yes.** Visit the West Virginia First Foundation’s “Requests for Proposals” [webpage](https://wvfirst.org/requests-for-proposals/) to view current opportunities for grants from the 72.5% Foundation Share. Local governments may create grant programs to distribute their share of funds. 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](https://www.lac.org/resource/opioid-settlement-grants-for-cbos) (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 Foundation share, visit the West Virginia First Foundation’s [website](https://wvfirst.org/), which includes [meeting minutes](https://wvfirst.org/meeting-minutes/), a list of [current Board members](https://wvfirst.org/about-the-foundation/board-members/), and links to [policies](https://wvfirst.org/foundation-policies/) that govern its activities. * To find updates on the local share, a good starting point is to check the websites for your county commission, city council, or local health department. *See*, *e.g.*, the opioid settlement-specific websites maintained by [Clarksburg](https://www.cityofclarksburgwv.com/438/Opioid-Settlement-Funding-Requests), [Harrison County](https://www.harrisoncountywv.com/opioid.aspx), [Kanawha County](https://kanawha.us/opioid-settlement-funds/). * You can also check for updates on Community Education Group’s [Appalachian Opioid Remediation (AOR) Database,](https://appalachiaopioidremediation.org/) which tracks information about the 13 states of Appalachia. ### **What else should I know?** The Foundation’s website includes a [general contact form](https://wvfirst.org/contact-us/). ### **Citations** 1. [Public Access Policy Sec. 1.6](https://wvfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Public-Access-Policy-West-Virginia-First-Foundation-20240202.pdf#page=2). West Virginia First Foundation, Inc. Feb. 2, 2024. ↑ 2. *See, e.g.*, [West Virginia First Foundation Board of Director Meeting Minutes for August 1, 2024](https://wvfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WVFF-Minutes-August-1-2024.pdf). Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑ 3. [Expert Panel Policy Sec. III(C)](https://wvfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Expert-Panel-Policy-20240216.pdf#page=3). West Virginia First Foundation, Inc. Accessed September 1, 2024. These “identified needs” are “vetted by the Regional Panel and … submitted to the State Panel.” *Id.* Regional Panels also must “conduct a needs assessment in their Region every fiscal year to aid the Board in formulating the annual budgeted amount of disbursements,” [Expert Panel Policy Sec. III(D)](https://wvfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Expert-Panel-Policy-20240216.pdf#page=3), and “convey Regional needs to the State Panel,” [Expert Panel Policy Sec. III(E)](https://wvfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Expert-Panel-Policy-20240216.pdf#page=3). ↑ 4. *See, e.g.*, [The Collective Power of Community: Clarksburg’s Community Conversation](https://www.cityofclarksburgwv.com/Blog.aspx?IID=9). City of Clarksburg News and Information page. August 9, 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024. ↑ --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://www.opioidsettlementguides.com/west-virginia/community-access.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. 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