Impact Areas

The opioid overdose crisis impacts every community in Massachusetts, from our neighborhoods to our workplaces. It is a complex problem and the solution requires a comprehensive and flexible approach. No one policy or program alone is sufficient to address the magnitude of the crisis. RIZE serves as a convener and connector of key stakeholders based on trusted relationships and credibility among practitioners, researchers, decision-makers, community leaders, and people affected by addiction.

 

RIZE’s multifaceted strategy is designed to address the complexity and enormity of the crisis and will only be effective if it is based on the evolving realities on the ground. We listen to and learn from each other, monitor the success of our collaborations, and hold each other accountable toward a common vision of “zero stigma. zero deaths.” Our work is iterative, designed to both support and expand upon our areas of focus in a manner that maximizes impact.

We organize our work into three focus areas – investing in community, generating knowledge, and building inclusive networks. The interconnectedness of this work has also produced cross-cutting strategies that respond to all three focus areas.

Strategic Areas graphic 2024
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Investing in Community

We support comprehensive, compassionate, and sustainable approaches across the care continuum. Learn more about our grant programs below.

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Generating Knowledge

We fund and promote independent research and evaluations of programmatic or policy interventions to increase visibility, expand the evidence base, and inform policy. Review our publications here.

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Building Inclusive Networks

We build stronger networks by bringing together a diversity of organizations and individuals dedicated to ending the overdose crisis. Stronger networks create space for finding common ground and creating unexpected and novel approaches. View our past and upcoming events here.

Current Programs

Our key grantmaking programs demonstrate how we are disrupting the status quo by selecting, supporting, and scaling the most effective and innovative programs available today and putting them to work saving lives.

Program Areas graphic 2024

Building the Field: Supporting Enhanced Training Opportunities for Recovery Coaches

Workforce

To support training opportunities that provide recovery coaches with concrete tools and strategies to become effective recovery coach supervisors and to improve their ability to support people with co-occurring disorders.

  • Total Award: $70,296
  • Grantees: Choice Recovery Coaching, Torchlight Recovery, Center for Health Impact, Malden Overcoming Addiction, Inc., North Suffolk Community Services, The Western Massachusetts Training Consortium

Comprehensive Place-based Response to the Opioid Crisis

Access & Equity, Workforce

To provide greater coordination and improved service delivery at the municipal level for those suffering with substance use disorder.

  • Total Award: $310,500
  • Grantees: Chelsea – Community Action Programs Inter-City, Everett Fire Department, Malden Public Health Department, Medford Health Department Office of Prevention and Outreach, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Enabling Health: Enhancing Harm Reduction Services in Massachusetts

Access & Equity, Harm Reduction

To expand existing harm reduction services and build an infrastructure to offer clinical addiction services within non-clinical settings.

  • Total Award: $1,808,555.25
  • Grantees: AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, HRH413, Kraft Center for Community Health, Life Connection Center

Frontline Fund Grants Program

Access & Equity, Harm Reduction, Workforce

To provide flexible funding to organizations on the frontlines of the overdose crisis.

  • Total Award: $223,221
  • 2023 Grantees: Action for Boston Community Development, William J. Ostiguy High School (Boston), Behavioral Health Innovators, Inc. (Chatham), Boston Medical Center, Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Boston), Fathers’ Uplift (Boston), Jeff’s Place (Framingham), Hilltown Youth Recovery Program (Charlemont), Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (Boston), Out For Good (Boston), Ricky, Inc. (Norwood), To the Moon and Back (Plymouth), United Way of Plymouth County (Brockton), Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma (Worcester)

HaRT Continuing Education Units

Harm Reduction, Workforce

To develop two, 90-minute continuing education courses for social workers about the principles and practices of harm reduction.

  • Total Award: $37,775
  • Grantees: National Harm Reduction Coalition, National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter

HaRT Scholars Program

Harm Reduction, Workforce

To create a specialized internship program – the first of its kind in the country – that will develop a pipeline of social workers who are trained in harm reduction.

  • Total Award: $812,419
  • Grantees: Bridgewater State University, Boston College, Simmons University

Identifying Opportunities to Innovate and Promote Best Practices in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment within Pharmacies

Harm Reduction, Workforce

To survey pharmacists to better understand current attitudes, knowledge and practices in serving people with OUD. Findings to inform innovative investments in pharmacies and pharmacists as a key intervention point in the OUD care continuum.

  • Total Award: $175,000.00
  • Grantee: Commonwealth Medicine University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Improving the Oral Health of People Seeking Substance Use Treatment

Access & Equity

To develop a new oral health intervention pilot program for people experiencing substance use disorder.

  • Total Award: $93,071
  • Grantee: UMass Chan Medical School

Innovations in Anti-Racism to Address the Opioid Crisis

Access & Equity

To improve access to addiction treatment by reducing the stigma and structural barriers faced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

  • Total Award: $967,200
  • Grantees: Boston Public Health Commission, Casa Esperanza, Codman Square Health Center, Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts

    Insights and Solutions Research

    Access & Equity, Harm Reduction, Workforce

    To initiate research and data analysis to increase access to treatment for opioid use disorder and contribute to developing the evidence base.

    • Total Award: $758,221
    • Grantees:
      • 2023 – Brandeis University Opioid Policy Research Collaborative, Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream (MADDS)
      • 2022 – Boston Medical Center Corporation, Brandeis University Opioid Policy Research Collaborative, Institute for Community Health
      • 2019 – Boston Public Health Commission/Institute for Community Health, Brandeis University, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

      Network One: New England Community Drug Checking Innovations Network 

      Harm Reduction

      To expand support for Network One, a regional drug supply checking network that collects data to inform harm reduction services, coordinated by Brandeis University, the Department of Public Health and drug testing sites statewide.

      • Total Award: $100,000
      • Grantees: Brandeis University, Opioid Policy Research Collaborative, Massachusetts Drug Supply Data Stream (MADDS)

        Saving Lives, Improving Health: Redesigning Opioid Use Disorder Care

        Access & Equity

        To expand the system of low threshold community-based, on-demand treatment and support long-term treatment to improve health and quality of life.

        • Total Award: $2,796,816.00
        • Grantees: Boston Health Care for the Homeless; Brockton Neighborhood Health Center; Lynn Community Health Center. Community HealthLink (Year-one only) Cambridge Health Alliance (Design only) Center for Human Development (Design only)
        • Evaluator: Institute for Community Health

          Taking Action to Improve Access and Equity in Opioid Use Disorder Care

          Access & Equity
          To support efforts that lead to measurable improvements in access and equity in opioid use disorder (OUD) care by centering the needs of people who identify as Black, Latine, or Indigenous.
          • Total Award: $883,062
          • Grantees: Baystate Medical Center Emergency Department, Casa Esperanza, Metro Boston Alive and Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Women’s Lunch Place, Institute for Community Health (evaluator)

            Together in Recovery

            Access & Equity

            To foster an accessible, integrated treatment and recovery network in Massachusetts that champions evidence-based approaches, supports multiple pathways to recovery, and puts people in charge of their treatment choices.

            • Total Award: $320,322
            • Vendor: C4 Innovations

            Together We RIZE Grant Program

            Access & Equity, Harm Reduction, Workforce

            To support bold, community-driven projects and initiatives that have the potential to bend the curve of overdose crisis.

            • Total Award: $598,225 
            • Grantees: Berkshire Harm Reduction, Grayken Center for Addiction at the Boston Medical Center, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, North Suffolk Mental Health Association, St. Francis House, South Shore Health 

            Understanding & Bolstering the Harm Reduction Workforce in Massachusetts

            Harm Reduction, Workforce

            To identify, quantify, and understand the harm reduction workforce and build capacity, support practitioners/harm reductionists in their current roles, and provide educational opportunities for growth.

            • Total Award: $70,000.00
            • Grantee: Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management

              Understanding Linkages Between Community-based Organizations and Community Health Centers for Substance Use Disorder Care

              Access & Equity

              To study and improve community-based referral networks for substance use disorder care.

              • Total Award: $60,050
              • Grantee: Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation and Policy of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers