OUR MISSION
Respond
to the loss of life due to opioids in our community.
Recover
by expanding our capacity for treatment in Summit County.
Rebuild
a new landscape for our community where there is no wrong door for someone to walk through to rewrite their story.
$104 MILLION IN COMMUNITY IMPACT
In 2017, Summit County was joined by 21 communities and Summit County Public Health in filing a lawsuit holding opioid makers, distributors, and pharmacies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis. Summit County was awarded $104 million in the settlement which is earmarked for education, treatment, harm reduction, system coordination and prevention. In addition, Summit County was awarded pharmaceutical products from multiple manufacturers that included lifesaving emergency medications to be used in local hospitals.
An abatement plan, approved by the judge presiding over the case included several very specific directives that include physician training, services for pregnant women, reducing stigma and researching alternative methods for pain management. These non-discretionary awards were made outside of the Opiate Abatement Advisory Council.
Announcements
RFP Opportunity: There are no open requests for proposals at this time.
Community Engagement Meetings: Registration for 2025 Community Engagement Meetings can be found at this link. Please be aware that these meetings are for community partners to bring forth the needs of the community and are not meant to be requests of funding.
For more information on upcoming opportunities, or the next scheduled Community Engagement meeting, please use the ‘Feedback’ box at the bottom of the page to contact the Summit County Public Health Project Management team.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS
Non-Discretionary Funding
Henry Schein Company
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Education and Stigma
Funding placed directly under the management of Akron Community Foundation in the amount of $1 million. Funds are used to support MAT training, increase MAT Provider capacity, research alternative pain techniques and reduce stigma.
American Heart Association: $50,000 for Summit County CPR and Opioid Lifesavers program
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry: $12,500 to support addiction recovery, mentoring, and workforce development services in Summit County
Akron Children’s Hospital: $115, 216 for Peer Recovery for Addicted Mothers (PRAM)
Cleveland Clinic Foundation: $150,000 for expanding treatment access and Increasing MAT Certification
CHC Addiction Services: $125,000 for evaluation of Quality of Life patients receiving Medication Assistant Treatment
Freedom House for Women Inc: $2,500 for general operating support
Friends of the Summit: $50,000 to raise awareness, remove stigma and offering hope – Rock and Recovery™ Everyone Need a Lil’ RNR
Hope United: $5,000 to support families grieving the loss of a loved one to overdose or addiction
IBH Addiction Recovery: $20,000 for general operating support of addiction treatment
I-Vision Ministries: $2,000 to provide elementary age children with alcohol, drug and tobacco prevention education
Let’s Get Healthy Cleveland, Inc.: $2,500 to support programs addressing cardiovascular health, opioid overdoses and vaping issues in Akron
Mode – Miracles Occur Days Enriched: $5,000 for general operating support
Northeast Ohio Medical University Foundation: $115,000 to further address the opioid crisis through direct provision of care and offering clinical MAT training
Portage Path Behavioral Health: $150,000 to increase capacity, effectiveness, and objective measurement of dual diagnosis/addiction recovery
Portage Path Behavioral Health: $30,000 for a recovery support service mobile app
Safe Harbor Norton: $5,000 for addiction recovery housing services
Summit County Community Partnership: $10,359 to support the Deterra Project: Preventing Prescription Medicine Abuse
Johnson & Johnson: Centering Pregnancy
A program for pregnant women with Opioid Use Disorder.
Funding in the amount of $2 million was awarded to Summa ($1 million) and Cleveland Clinic Akron General ($1 million). An additional $500,000 was awarded to Summa to include programming for pregnant women in the jail and Health Equity Center.
Medication Settlement
Summit County was awarded medication from the formularies of several companies. These organizations include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Endo Pharmaceuticals and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals.
Discretionary Funding
School Based Wellness
$750,000 to Summit Educational Service Center to implement school based wellness coordinators in 4 school districts to connect students to care for mental and or behavioral health services.
Care Coordination from Summit County Jail
$1,478,415 for Summit Psychological Associates to provide coordinated care and case management for clients leaving Summit County Jail as they were recognized as a best practical source.
Trauma Informed Care Mapping Project
$272,527 for a grant agreement with the University of Akron to create a single multi-year strategic plan of systemic, top-down organizational changes within county agencies to implement trauma informed care for a one-year period. This funding is in collaboration with the Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board and the total cost will be shared equally.
Data Platform
$5,325,000 for a professional service contract with Unite USA, Inc. (“Unite Us”) for a data sharing platform for a comprehensive solution for care coordination for individuals with substance use disorder, subject to ratification by the Information Technology Board, for a five-year term .
MAT initiation in Emergency Departments
$1 million awarded to Summa for expansion of the existing First Step programming to more ED locations. $1 million awarded to Cleveland Clinic Akron General to establish a MAT program.
Opioid Healing Fund
Funding to support community recovery, grassroots and peer support programs
$500,000 was initially approved and an additional $250,000 was added in January 2022. Monies are managed by the Akron Community Foundation Opioid Healing Fund to support a variety of organizations. Another $500,000 was awarded to continue to support smaller organizations in 2023.
3R Foundation: $10,000 to support the Better Together Initiative.
AxessPointe Community Health Centers: $20,000 to help community members with substance use disorders.
Battered Women’s Shelter: $12,500 for care coordination for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking with substance use disorder.
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry: $20,000 to support Lydia’s Home Access to Recovery Program.
CASA Board Volunteer Association: $10,000 to provide advocacy services for youth who have been exposed to substance use and to connect their parents with recovery and support services.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland: $10,000 to support the Breaking Free Project.
Compass North Church: $12,500 to enlarge the reach of A Walk in Their Shoes and Celebrate Recovery.
Deborah Anointing Foundation: $10,000 to support women with substance use disorder by providing a safe and stable recovery house, as well as mentorship and education programs.
Freedom House for Women, Inc.: $15,000 to support the Courage to Change program.
Hand 2 Hand Inc.: $2,500 to support The Tree of Life event, where families who have lost a loved one to overdose can plant a tree in their memory.
Hope Farm Inc.: $7,500 to provide food to unhoused individuals who are in active addiction.
JoAnna House II Inc.: $12,500 for peer recovery services and preventions.
Keys to Serenity: $25,000 to support the Family Program, which provides family-focused support, assistance and events for children and their parents/caregivers struggling with addiction.
Legacy III, Inc.: $15,000 to provide permanent supportive housing to unhoused women who are recovering from addiction.
Life of Recovery Sober Housing: $10,000 to support opioid and addiction recovery housing for women in Akron/
MODE – Miracles Occur Days Enriched: $5,000 to support recovery services for individuals struggling with substance use disorder.
Ohio Domestic Violence Network: $10,000 to improve services to DV survivors with substance use issues and mental health needs.
OhioCAN Change Addiction Now: $12,500 to provide individuals in recovery with financial management strategies.
Rachel’s Angels: $10,000 to provide prevention presentations to middle and high school students.
Rape Crisis Center: $12,500 to increase support for survivors of sexual violence with co-occurring substance use disorders.
Reentry Coalition of Summit, Portage, & Medina: $25,000 to support the Summit County Citizen Circle.
relink.org, $20,000 to analyze and capture data from the Better Together Summit Co. network of organizations offering addiction recovery services.
Restore Addiction Recovery: $20,000 for community outreach and engagement.
Safe Harbor Norton: $20,000 for continuing education, housing scholarship and transportation support.
Sarah’s House Inc.: $15,000 to provide older adults with information related to addiction as well as opportunities for social activities.
South Street Ministries: $25,000 for operations of Restoration House.
Summit Recovery Hub: $25,000 to support Recovery On Purpose: Recovery Endurance Support Meeting & Community Recovery Events.
The Packard Institute, Inc.: $15,000 for peer recovery support targeting underserved youth.
Truly Reaching You: $10,000 for reentry and addiction recovery support services for men.
Truth & Honor: $12,500 to provide job and life skills training to individuals undergoing recovery and support services.
Voices for Voices: $5,000 to support Project Purple, which educates, amplifies and recognizes those who provide peer support and recovery-oriented services to residents of Summit County.
Women Revived Ministries: $10,000 for Total Life Wellness In Recovery.
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry: $10,000 for Lydia’s Home Residential Recovery and Community Outreach.
Community Oriented Recovery: $10,000 for peer support of Summit County residents.
Fathers and Sons of Northeast Ohio: $25,000 to support Summit County fathers in recovery.
Joanna House II: $10,000 for peer support services and prevention education.
Legacy III: $10,000 to support Brubaker and Humble Beginnings (permanent housing with support services).
OhioCan Change Addition Now: $10,000 to support SummitCan blessing bags.
Rachel’s Angels: $10,000 to support Rachel’s Angels Healing Voice II.
Relink.org: $20,000 for Pulling it All Together: Using Technology to connect Summit County providers and the community.
Restore Addiction Recovery: $25,000 for community outreach programming.
South Street Ministries: $15,000 to support reentry and recovery support meetings and staff training in overdose response.
3R Foundation: $15,000 for the Reentry, Reconnect, Restoration (3R) project, which educates both youth and adults about the dangers of opioid use.
ARC Recovery Services: $25,000 for addiction recovery treatment services.
Community Oriented Recovery: $25,000 for peer recovery support services for Summit County residents.
Compass North Church: $12,500 to support a Walk in Their Shoes and Celebrate Recovery program.
Friends of 91.3 (The Summit): $25,000 to support Rock+Recovery™ Radio.
Hope United: $15,000 to support education & recovery events to individuals in recovery and their families.
H.M. Life Opportunity Services: $15,000 to support homeless mothers recovering from opiate addiction.
Keys to Serenity: $20,000 for the Keys to the Heart Family Program, a 12-month program that provides events, as well as educational and assistance programs, to families and children affected by substance abuse in their home.
Let’s Get Healthy Cleveland: $10,000 for opioid community awareness, including education and outreach programs.
MODE – Miracles Occur, Days Enriched: $20,000 to support outpatient and partial hospitalization programming, including addiction counseling and peer support services.
OhioCAN – Change Addiction Now: $12,500 for the “OhioCAN Summit: Come, Learn and Remember,” which will include national speakers, games and activities for children, and education, support and empowerment for adults
Ohio Domestic Violence Network: $10,000 to improve services to domestic violence survivors with substance use issues and mental health needs.
The Packard Institute: $20,000 for peer-recovery for families impacted by addiction.
Safe Harbor Norton: $20,000 for continuing education, vocational job training and housing scholarships for residents in treatment.
Sarah’s House Inc.: $15,000 for My Family-My People, a project focused on Akron’s Ward 4 that provides prevention meetings for 10- to 17-year-olds
3R Foundation: $20,500 for the Reentry, Reconnect, Restoration (3R) project, which educates both youth and adults about the dangers of opioid use.
Akron Say No To Dope: $15,000 to increase capacity for the New Beginnings Thrift Store on Kenmore Boulevard.
AxessPointe Community Health Centers: $25,000 to increase awareness about the issue of substance use disorders in older adults.
Broken Chains Jail & Prison Ministry: $25,000 to provide recovery services and workforce development programs.
CASA Board Volunteer Association: $23,985 to provide advocacy support to children exposed to substance abuse.
Freedom House for Women: $25,000 for the Courage to Change program, which provides peer support services to women with Opiate Use Disorder.
Hope United: $20,000 to provide grief support groups for Summit County residents who have lost a loved one to addiction.
Keys to Serenity: $25,000 for the Keys to the Heart Family Program, which is a 12-month program that provides events and educational and assistance programs to families and children affected by substance abuse in their home.
Legacy III: $25,000 to assist women with a history of drug addiction in identifying safe and affordable housing.
MODE – Miracles Occur, Days Enriched: $20,000 to support outpatient and partial hospitalization addiction counseling.
Rachel’s Angels: $15,000 to develop visual media and online content for peer-based prevention presentations at local schools.
Safe Harbor Norton: $25,000 to provide Level II recovery housing for men in Summit County.
Sarah’s House Inc.: $7,000 for a prevention program geared toward individuals over the age of 60.
South Street Ministries: $25,000 to support the organization’s recovery and reentry programs and events.
The Packard Institute: $20,000 to provide ongoing recovery support and professional development to recovery coaches and other addiction professionals.
Truth & Honor: $25,000 to provide recovery support services and training opportunities to veteran referrals from the Summit County Valor Court program.
Consultation
$180,000 to Monument Analytics for specialized consultation on the creation and development of a data platform as they were determined as a best practical source for this project coordination.
Project Management:
$160,000 initially awarded to SCPH for project management for one year. Renewed to extend project management staffing and include related costs for $463,852.24.
Summit Safe Harm Reduction
$180,000 for the SCPH syringe exchange program.
Who is involved
Our Stakeholders
Ilene
Shapiro
County of Summit,
County Executive
Shammas Malik
City of Akron,
Mayor
Christopher Barker
Summit County
Public Health,
Health Commissioner
Bill
Judge
Barberton, Mayor,
representing the Mayor’s
Association
George
Beckham
Trustee, Coventry Township,
representing Township
Trustees
Our Active Members
Aimee Wade, ADM Board – Executive Director
Carla Chapman, Director, Community Relations and Chief Diversity Officer – Akron Public Schools
Cassandra Holtzmann, Summit County Children’s Services – Executive Director
Christopher Stahr, Community Representative, Community Development Director – Valor Court SCCCP
Dan Carter, Community Representative
Dr. Eva Szigethy, Akron Children’s Hospital- Director of Pediatric Psychiatry and Psychology
Dr. James Orlando, Summit Psychological Associates – COO
Dr. Joseph Varley, Summa Health- Chair of the Department of Psychiatry
Dr. Michel Farivar, Cleveland Clinic Akron General – Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Stacey Gardner-Buckshaw, Director of Community Engagement at NEOMED
Lori Pesci, Summit County Public Safety Director
Pastor David Parker, Zion Apostolic Faith Church
Robert Cooper, Community Representative
Past Members
Brighid Hillmuth, Community Representative
Chief Jack Davis, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department
Charles Brown, City of Akron – Deputy Mayor of Public Safety
Chief Vince Morber, Barberton Police Department
Chuck Sincere, Springfield Schools Superintendent
Dr. Rajesh Tampi, Cleveland Clinic Akron General- Chair of the Department of Psychiatric and Behavioral Science
Dr. Samer Narouze, Western Reserve Hospital – Chair of the Center for Pain Management
Dr. Sarah Friebert, Akron Children’s Hospital – Pediatric Palliative Care
Julie Barnes, Summit County Children’s Services – Executive Director
Katie O’Toole, Community Representative
Our Project Management Team
Megan Scott
Office – 330-926-5686
Megan Scott, CDCA, CIT is a state licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant and a Licensed Professional Counselor currently working as the Behavioral Health Services Supervisor at Summit County Public Health. Megan has previously worked as a Case Manager and Substance Use Counselor in the Community Corrections field and has deep experience in Project Management.
David McCartney
Office – 330-926-5613
David McCartney, MPH, is currently working as a Public Health Coordinator for Quality of Life projects at Summit County Public Health. David has previously worked in harm reduction services and HIV prevention.
THE OPIATE ABATEMENT PROCESS
The OAAC meets monthly. Our members participate in one of two designated workgroups.
Funding Evaluation.
Our Funding Evaluation workgroup meets with those organizations that received funding directly from the OAAC. Our goal is to assure the community that the monies are being allocated with integrity and to confirm that the project proposals are being met and continue to be in alignment with OAAC priorities.
Community Engagement.
Our Community Engagement workgroup meets with agencies who have proposals, plans or concepts they feel would benefit from funding. These meetings are not a forum for these groups to request funding, but rather to give the community a voice in the OAAC’s future decisions. You can register to attend these meetings by clicking here.