An estimated four percent of people in Massachusetts have an opioid use disorder and 2,107 people died of an overdose last year.
RIZE Massachusetts (RIZE), a state-wide philanthropic initiative, chose six organizations from a broad pool of applicants to receive $50,000 design grants for its inaugural Saving Lives, Improving Health: Redesigning Opioid Use Disorder Care program.
The goal of this grant program is to establish or expand systems of low threshold, on-demand treatment to prevent death, support long-term recovery, and improve health and quality of life. “These grants highlight the dedicated professionals in Brockton and all over the Commonwealth who are working on the frontlines of this crisis and who will help alleviate its devastating effects on our families and our communities,” said Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter.
The six grant recipients will collaborate with dozens of different agencies and organizations within their communities to provide a more comprehensive system of care that will serve the most vulnerable populations throughout the Commonwealth. “It’s quite clear there is enormous potential and energy in Massachusetts to address the opioid epidemic in a thoughtful, innovative, and evidence-generating manner. This first round of design grant recipients all have proven track records of taking on tough health care challenges with creativity, compassion and rigor,” said RIZE Board Chair David Torchiana, MD, President and CEO Partners HealthCare.
The six grant recipients are:
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
Cambridge Health Alliance
Center for Human Development in Western MA
Community Healthlink in Worcester
Lynn Community Health Center
The grantees proposed promising approaches to delivering care for people at greatest risk of opioid overdose and addiction, including the use of medication assisted treatment. “We need a treatment model specifically focused on our rural geography and more resources to fight this crisis in Western MA. This RIZE grant will provide a critical infusion of funds to the area,” said Center for Human Development President and CEO Jim Goodwin.
Executive Director Julie Burns said RIZE will evaluate the effectiveness of the design grants using shared measures and data protocols and will fund two-year implementation grants for the programs that demonstrate the greatest potential. Implementation grants will be awarded in June 2018.
Learn more about our grant recipients.