A second stream of provincial funding is now available for community-led responses to the opioid overdose crisis.

The Community Overdose Crisis Innovation program capitalizes on the proven and effective strategies that form the Province’s comprehensive response to the overdose public health emergency. A total of $1.65 million is available in the program's new round of funding.

“Since the overdose crisis began, some of the most innovative responses have come from community organizations,” said Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “These grants support collaboration within communities, and will strengthen their ability to save lives and connect people to treatment and recovery.”

Grant applications will be accepted from municipalities and non-profit agencies, as well as First Nations, Métis or Indigenous-mandated organizations. Examples of the types of projects that may be supported include those that build on:

• stronger paths to treatment and care;
• innovative strategies to reach people who use alone;
• Indigenous approaches to healing and wellness; or
• initiatives to enhance engagement of people with lived experience.

Successful applicants will receive as much as $75,000 per funded initiative. The application period closes July 13, 2018, with grants to be awarded in September. They follow the first stream of grant funding, which was earmarked for Community Action Teams in 20 high-priority communities.

The grants process is administered by the Community Action Initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Overdose Emergency Response Centre.

The fund is part of the government’s three-year, $322-million response to the overdose emergency.

Learn More:

Information and applications for Community Overdose Crisis Innovation Grants are available online:
https://www.communityactioninitiative.ca/grants-and-training/oerc-cai-grant/stream-2/

Overdose Emergency Response Centre:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/overdose/how-the-province-is-responding

Overdose Prevention and Response in B.C.:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/overdose and http://stopoverdosebc.ca/