The grant provides partial funding for the construction of a Bridge Shelter in the Vancouver Mall area

VANCOUVER – The Clark County Opioid Abatement Council recently awarded monies from an opioid settlement to several local organizations that provide drug prevention and treatment programs as well as recovery services.

Clark County in 2018 filed a lawsuit in federal court against several pharmaceutical companies that sell opioids. Clark County joined more than 400 jurisdictions nationwide seeking to hold the companies accountable for harm opioid addiction inflicted on their communities.

As part of the settlement, jurisdictions must establish an Opioid Abatement Council that will make decisions on awarding grants to applicants. The Clark County Opioid Abatement Council awarded grants to seven local organizations for a total amount of more than $5.3 million.

The largest grant was awarded to the city of Vancouver. The grant provides partial funding for the construction of a Bridge Shelter in the Vancouver Mall area. The goal of the shelter is to provide a stable environment for those experiencing homelessness which include services such as addiction treatment and housing support. The Opioid Abatement Council awarded the city of Vancouver $2.75 million for the Bridge Shelter Project.

Several other organizations also received grants. Below are the grant amounts and a brief description of how they will be used.

• Clark County Jail Services: $1,1 million; Expansion of the Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Program to include prescription and recovery support services.
• Couve Collective: $101,708; Continued support for the Couve Opiate Response Effort including naloxone distribution, case management, and a dedicated communication line for participants.
• ESD 112: $338,405; Collaborative projects with local schools for opioid prevention education, safe storage initiatives, medication disposal coordination, and naloxone access improvement.
• Recovery Café Clark County: $400,000; Enhancement of services including new recovery coaches and training for peer workers in collaboration with emergency responders and community courts.
• Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health: $410,794; Support for the Narcan vending machine project, aiming to improve accessibility to opioid overdose reversal medication.
• Vancouver Public Schools: $199,663; Establishment of a Prevention/Intervention Specialist to focus on early intervention and prevention in elementary schools.

The county has contracted with Carelon Behavioral Health to administer the settlement funding. The settlement requires Carelon to establish a dashboard to provide a public space for opioid settlement data. Carelon is in the process of finalizing contracts with the organizations receiving the grants.

The grants approved by the Opioid Abatement Council are for the 2025 process. Requesting grants from the settlement funds will be an ongoing annual process that begins each March. 

Information provided by Clark Co. WA Communications.