Hamilton County has distributed a second wave of funding through its Opioid Settlement initiative, now branded as HOPE for Hamilton County, in a concerted effort to tackle the persistent opioid crisis. According to Hamilton County announcement, various local programs have received grant awards totaling $149,725. This funding is intended to support initiatives that range from prevention and treatment to recovery and harm reduction related to opioid misuse.
Among the entities receiving awards, Affiliated Service Providers of Indiana (ASPIN) was granted $26,000 to enhance their capacity for connecting low-income individuals with health coverage options. Operating from within the Hamilton County Jail, Launch Hope earned $25,000 for its peer recovery and job-readiness program for women. Addressing the granting process, having worked closely with the innovation, the Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs (HCCOAOD) with its nine-member Board oversaw it, distributing the critical funding to programs poised to make a difference in the community plagued by addiction.
Further allocations include $21,225 to Christ United Methodist Church for therapy and mentorship, $17,000 to Student Impact of Westfield for substance-use prevention in after-school settings, and $15,000 each to Ignite Transform for mental health services within the female inmate population and to the Boys and Girls Club of Noblesville for their SMART Moves initiative. Additional awards were less, with $12,500 going to Sheridan Schools for prevention supplies, $10,000 to The Recovery Café for digital presence enhancements, and $8,000 to the Sheridan Youth Assistance Program towards mental health services.
Organizations aiming to secure a slice of the next funding round have until February 14, 2025, to submit applications. With all services requiring to be provided in Hamilton County despite the located, award recipients need not be within the county, as per the HCCOAOD Board's criteria. After review by the Board of Commissioners, successful projects announced on March 21 are set to run for the year following April 1, 2025.
