DHCS To Invest Millions To Tackle Youth Opioid Use

SACRAMENTO — The Department of Health Care Services or DHCS the week ending Dec. 16, made $12 million in grants available to nonprofits, schools, and other groups tackling opioid use among young people. Organizations can apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to support prevention, treatment, and recovery services for youth (ages 12-24) with, or at risk of, opioid use disorder or stimulant use disorder. 

“Opioid use, especially the unintended use of fentanyl, is one of the biggest challenges facing California youth,” said Jacey Cooper, State Medicaid Director and DHCS Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs. “The purpose of these grants is to save lives.” 

The Request for Application or RFA issued by DHCS is for funds to implement the California Youth Opioid Response program, which is funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The funds would be spent between March 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024. Eligible applicants also include for-profit businesses, Tribal authorities, and state or local government agencies. The California youth opioid response program will provide grants in two categories: implementation grants and capacity-building grants. Implementation grants are for projects to build capacity and deliver direct services to youth, such as intensive outreach, screening, early interventions, engagement, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), recovery services that focus on positive youth development and evidence-based practices. The capacity-building grants focus on expanding the capacity of current programs through education, workforce development and improved access to prevention, intervention, and recovery services. MAT is the use of prescription medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-person approach to the treatment of substance use disorder or SUD.