The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a funding opportunity to award a total of $4 million to up to 10 organizations to increase access to high-quality substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Using federal funds designated for SUD treatment, NCDHHS is prioritizing individuals with I/DD as beneficiaries of this funding.
"The department is committed to promoting whole-person health through integrated care," said Chief Deputy Secretary for Health Kody H. Kinsley. "People with intellectual and developmental disabilities who also experience substance use disorders often have difficulty accessing treatment services."
NCDHHS’ Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services is soliciting applications from substance use disorder providers to expand their services to offer clinically appropriate substance use disorder services for people with I/DD. Applicant agencies will:
- Work within their communities to identify and overcome barriers to substance use treatment access for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Develop and aid referral networks for this population
- Promote cross-system collaboration between I/DD and SUD providers
Funds are available for providers to enhance existing SUD services and/or implement new SUD services specifically designed to engage the I/DD population. Grant funds may be used for clinical training for providers to provide appropriate services to the I/DD population. Funds may also be used for data collection and analysis.
"This is an exciting opportunity to meet the needs of an often-overlooked population," said Interim DMHDDSAS Director Deepa Avula. "NCDHHS is invested in building and supporting the infrastructure needed to provide quality services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."
Full details on the application and performance timeline, eligibility criteria for applying and allowable uses of program funds can be found at www.ncdhhs.gov/about/grant-opportunities/mental-health-developmental-disabilities-and-substance-abuse-services-grant-opportunities.
The funding for this program is made possible by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s COVID-19 emergency relief funding, in accordance with the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act of 2021, which is provided via the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant awarded to NCDHHS.