The Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) announced $2.5 million in new Infrastructure Share funding for local governments to fight the state’s opioid crisis at their annual statewide conference in Montrose.
- Clear Creek County: $530,000 – In partnership with the Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Clear Creek County plans to use this grant award to invest in new property that will offer the space needed to consolidate and centralize services, while providing room for growth. Jefferson Center is currently finalizing the purchase of property in Lakewood that will serve as a comprehensive recovery campus for all the areas the organization serves, which includes the Denver Metro Area, and Gilpin, Clear Creek, and Jefferson counties. The new campus is expected to serve up to 3,500 clients each year. Additionally, funds will be used to address the unique transportation barriers faced by each rural community, as well as the personal circumstances of individual clients.
- Colorado Charter School Institute: $469,920 – The grant award will be used to expand high-quality wraparound services for students at 5280 High School, a safe and substance-free school that provides education and treatment for teens in recovery. The school already has a strong track record of growth and success for students, with 70% of students remaining enrolled through graduation.
- Las Animas – Huerfano Counties District Health Department: $500,000 – The district will use the money to create a new one-stop-shop health campus in Walsenburg. Their goal will be to increase services and confidentiality for people looking for opioid use disorder and behavioral health treatment. The campus will also include a family resource center, early childhood programs, and community spaces.
- Region 4 Opioid Abatement Council: $376,878 – Through implementing organizations including Omni Institute, Centennial Mental Health Center, and North Colorado Health Alliance, this grant award will improve transportation programs for people seeking treatment from existing recovery services, provide a wider distribution of overdose prevention materials, and fund community engagement and recovery events to combat the stigma of seeking treatment. Region 4 includes the eastern Colorado communities of Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Yuma, Washington, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, and Phillips counties.
- Region 5 Opioid Abatement Council and Eagle County: $150,000 – These dollars will be used to fund the administrative functions of the regional opioid abatement council, services which are currently being provided in a volunteer capacity from several regional organizations in Summit and Eagle counties. Dedicated staff will allow for better planning, managing, and communication across the Region 5 counties to better respond to the opioid crisis.
- Region 13 Opioid Abatement Council: $487,980 – Partnering with St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic, this award will support construction and outfitting of the clinic’s space to provide HIPAA-compliant, evidence-based treatment for people seeking substance use disorder treatment in Mesa County, and for adolescents and families in Garfield, Delta, and Montrose counties.
The grants are intended to provide resources for capital improvements and provide operational assistance for communities to combat Colorado’s opioid crisis, particularly in hard-hit, underserved areas. The Infrastructure Share is intended to supplement other opioid settlement funds by providing additional funds to areas of greatest need.
