title
PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Cook County Health
Grantee: Cook County Health
Grantor: Department of Human Services/ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Request: Authorization to accept grant
Purpose: Cook County First Responder & Community Overdose Prevention Initiative
Grant Amount: $517,375.00
Grant Period: 9/30/2026-9/29/2027
Fiscal Impact: None
Accounts: N/A.
Concurrences:
The Budget Department has received all requisite documents and determined the fiscal impact on Cook County, if any.
Summary: This is a formal request to accept the Cook County First Responder & Community Overdose Prevention Initiative Grant. Cook County continues to experience significant disparities in opioid overdose morbidity and mortality, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by structural inequities, limited access to care, and behavioral health workforce shortages. While many organizations are working to address the opioid crisis, opportunities remain to strengthen coordination, expand education, reduce stigma, and improve referral pathways that connect individuals to timely treatment and recovery services. Through funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) program, the Cook County Health Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) will implement the Cook County First Responder & Community Overdose Prevention Initiative, a countywide effort to reduce overdose deaths and strengthen the systems that connect residents to prevention, treatment, recovery, and support. OBH will convene a diverse network of traditional and nontraditional first responders, healthcare and behavioral health providers, substance use treatment and recovery organizations, community-based organizations, peer support specialists, and individuals with lived expertise to build a more coordinated and effect...
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