The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), invites applications from jurisdictions receiving CDC's Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) funding to participate in a new cohort of non-monetary technical assistance. The OD2A Business Process Improvement Technical Assistance Opportunity aims to enhance the financial and administrative capabilities of state, territorial, and local health agencies to enable more efficient use of OD2A funds. This initiative is part of ASTHO's ongoing efforts, building on its 2020 pilot project, to improve business process efficiencies, training, and compliance through collaborative, customized technical support.
Selected jurisdictions will engage in a series of activities to diagnose and improve internal operations that may hinder timely spenddown of federal overdose prevention funding. ASTHO will choose up to three OD2A recipients to receive a tailored package of support that includes a two-day in-person process-mapping workshop, individual virtual technical assistance sessions, peer-to-peer learning engagements, and the development of deliverables such as implementation plans and workflow maps. Participants are expected to commit to multiple touchpoints over several months, totaling up to 25 hours of internal work time.
Through this engagement, recipients will be equipped to identify inefficiencies, reduce delays, align internal priorities with funding timelines, and foster cross-agency collaboration. ASTHO and CDC will also provide expert-led resources to support changes in areas such as contracting, hiring, and procurement. The initiative strongly emphasizes leadership buy-in and the integration of change management principles to ensure lasting impact.
Participation in this opportunity is open to all OD2A recipients. Applications must be submitted via the provided online form by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 14, 2025. ASTHO will prioritize applicants with clear needs for administrative improvement. Prospective applicants experiencing technical difficulties may contact Alyssa Merski (amerski@astho.org) for alternate submission options.
The program timeline includes the release of the Request for Applications on October 10, 2025, with selected participants beginning activities in December 2025. The technical assistance period will run through July 2026, concluding with a close-out evaluation. ASTHO stresses that this opportunity is non-binding and may be adjusted or withdrawn at its discretion. There is no monetary award associated with this opportunity, and participation is offered solely for technical assistance purposes.
