RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund Request for Proposals (OH) Grant

The RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund, managed by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, aims to combat the drug epidemic and mental health crisis in Ohio. This funding supports law enforcement initiatives that emphasize prevention, harm reduction, and treatment for underserved populations. By promoting effective strategies, training, and collaboration, the fund seeks to enhance community responses and improve outcomes for individuals affected by substance use disorders and mental illness.

RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund Request for Proposals (OH)
The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. By statute, OCJS is the lead justice planning and assistance agency for the state, administering millions of dollars in state and federal criminal justice funding every year. OCJS also evaluates programs and develops technology, training, and products for criminal justice professionals and communities.
The RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund is part of Governor Mike DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative, which was developed to ensure Ohio acts aggressively to address the public health crisis caused by the repercussions of the drug epidemic and mental illness. Funding is provided to support the recommendations of the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council.
Purpose
The RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement Fund will provide funding to defray expenses that a drug task force organization incurs in performing its functions related to the enforcement of the state’s drug laws and other state laws related to illegal drug activity as well as deflection, diversion, outreach, education, prevention, harm reduction, and Quick Response Teams activities related to the RecoveryOhio Initiative. Each applicant will need to demonstrate how their application meets the stated purpose of the fund.
RecoveryOhio Recommendations and Law Enforcement Involvement
Prevention – to promote effective strategies to reduce the prevalence of mental illness and additional conditions and decrease adverse outcomes.Expanding Law Enforcement’s Role - Recognize and strengthen the prevention role of law enforcement in school and communities by providing training opportunities, including them in assessment and planning efforts, and implementing best practices that expand their presence as role models, mediators of conflicts, and supporters for parental, school, and community responses to substance use and mental illness.Harm Reduction – to decrease adverse consequences of illicit drug use, alcohol use, mental illness and other illnesses.Increasing Naloxone Availability - Accessibility of naloxone for overdose reversal and remove barriers to promote greater use.Treatment and Recovery Supports – to ensure that all strategies addressing mental illness and substance use disorders include effective approaches to address the needs of all Ohioans and that services and supports in institutions and community programs provide equitable access and clinical approaches that effectively meet the needs of Ohio’s underserved populations.Exploring Crisis Infrastructure Models - Quick Response Teams involving law enforcement.Streamlining Information Sharing to Ease Collaboration and Improve Care - Develop Trainings and tools that help collaborative partners share information for care coordination while maintaining compliance with federal privacy and confidentiality laws related to mental illness and substance use disordersDrug Trafficking - Decreasing the Supply of Drugs - Continue to coordinate efforts between the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to work with law enforcement agencies to expand proven drug task force models that specifically target and disrupt the flow of money and drugs from cartels that target individuals straggling with substance use disorders.Specialty Populations – Juveniles - Focusing on Organizations for Youths - Expand collaboration among organizations meeting the prevention, treatment, and recovery needs of Ohio’s young people and organizations serving youths, such as Boy & Girls Clubs, YMCAs and others.Specialty Populations – First Responders - Greater Support for First Responders - Support collaborative strategies that increase local support available to first responders related to secondary trauma. Build targeted efforts for suicide prevention among first responders.