Rigorous Evaluation of Strategies to Prevent Overdose through Linking People with Illicit Substance Use Disorders to Recovery Support Services | RFA CE 22 010

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CE 22 010

This CDC funding opportunity (RFA CE 22 010) supports investigator-initiated research focused on preventing overdose by improving how people with illicit substance use disorders get connected to, and stay connected to, recovery support services in their own communities. The core idea is that long-term recovery often depends on more than clinical treatment alone. People benefit when they are linked to practical, ongoing supports such as peer recovery services, recovery community organizations, recovery housing, employment and job training programs, educational supports, family and relationship supports, transportation assistance, and other evidence-based services that help stabilize daily life and strengthen social supports over time.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity is specifically interested in identifying and rigorously evaluating strategies, programs, or policies that do two things: (1) link people who are in recovery to at least one evidence-based recovery support service available in their community, and (2) if someone resumes illicit substance use, re-link them back to services quickly and effectively to encourage a return to care and reduce overdose risk. The research emphasis is on strategies tailored to the individual, recognizing that people have different needs, barriers, strengths, and levels of support. The CDC highlights the concept of building "recovery capital," meaning the personal, social, and material resources that make recovery more likely to be sustained (for example, healthier relationships, safer social networks, stable housing, and access to employment opportunities).

A key term in this NOFO is "recovery ecosystem," defined as the set of recovery support services available within a community that can be tailored to an individual's needs. In practice, this can mean connecting a person to multiple coordinated services, potentially at multiple points in time, rather than a one-time referral. The CDC is looking for research that helps determine which linkage approaches are actually effective and replicable, including how to operationalize these connections in real-world systems where people may cycle in and out of care or experience setbacks.

Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to conduct both process and outcome evaluations of the linkage strategies being studied. A process evaluation would typically examine how the strategy was implemented, who it reached, the quality and fidelity of the approach, barriers and facilitators to implementation, and how well different parts of the linkage model worked together. An outcome evaluation would measure whether the strategy improves key health and recovery outcomes. The NOFO explicitly calls out outcomes such as maintaining recovery, successfully re-linking people to care after a return to use, and preventing overdose, while allowing room for other relevant measures tied to improved stability and wellbeing.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program run by the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The CFDA number listed is 93.136. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities; K-12 independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and other entities as allowed under the NOFO eligibility clarifications. The award ceiling is $750,000, with an expected five awards. The opportunity was created December 20, 2021, and the original application deadline was March 14, 2022 (applications due by 5:00 pm ET).

Overall, the grant is aimed at producing strong, practical evidence about what works to connect people to community-based recovery supports in a way that can be maintained over time, adapted to individual needs, and reactivated quickly when someone is at risk of falling out of recovery, with the ultimate public health goal of reducing overdose and improving long-term recovery outcomes.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rigorous Evaluation of Strategies to Prevent Overdose through Linking People with Illicit Substance Use Disorders to Recovery Support Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.136.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 20, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 2022 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500 pm ET on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification), Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for RFA CE 22 010

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