Frontline Funds
From 2021 to 2023, RIZE supported organizations on the frontlines of the opioid overdose crisis through its Frontline Funds grant program. Each round focused on a specific area of need.
In its first round, RIZE awarded grants to 17 organizations to support harm reduction efforts for individuals living with substance use disorder throughout Massachusetts. The grants, totaling just over $75,000, covered the costs of harm reduction supplies, including approximately 650 hygiene kits, 80,000 clean syringes, 1,000 safer smoking kits, and 5,000 fentanyl test strips. These supplies helped reduce the risk of overdose deaths and prevented the spread of diseases. The funding also addressed the wellness of frontline workers, including staff training.
In 2022, RIZE expanded its funding to support a wide range of activities to enhance person-centered recovery approaches. This included helping organizations assist individuals in achieving their recovery goals and removing barriers to care, regardless of the type of treatment they seek or how they define it. The $85,000 awarded to 17 organizations covered expenses for supplies, activities, or personnel costs related to recovery efforts. Notably, this funding included increasing access to recovery services, addressing clients’ unmet health and social needs, and supporting the workforce.
In 2023, RIZE funded 13 nonprofits that support youth and families affected by opioid use disorder. The nearly $65,000 in funding supported projects or initiatives aimed at enhancing access to culturally responsive substance use prevention, education, treatment, and services for youth and families across Massachusetts.