Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Planning

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Planning is a federal initiative under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program is designed to support planning efforts in rural communities with the goal of addressing substance use disorder (SUD), particularly opioid use disorder (OUD). This funding opportunity is focused specifically on providing resources to assist rural organizations in building the necessary partnerships, infrastructure, and strategic frameworks required to eventually deliver comprehensive behavioral health and substance use services. This planning grant is not intended to fund direct services but instead aims to facilitate the development of systems that can support sustainable, community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery services. HRSA acknowledges the complexities and overlapping nature of substance misuse in rural areas, including issues with opioids and alcohol. Thus, the program promotes a comprehensive response to SUD by encouraging collaboration among local stakeholders and supporting foundational activities such as needs assessments, workforce development planning, and the creation of referral networks. The RCORP-Planning program is specifically tailored to meet the needs of rural areas that may lack the capacity or resources to apply for larger, more complex federal grants. By providing up to $100,000 per award, the program enables grantees to carry out critical preparatory work. This includes forming multi-sector consortia, developing strategies to address behavioral health disparities, identifying social determinants of health impacting SUD treatment, and ensuring future service models are equitable and accessible. Eligibility for the program is broad, encompassing public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit domestic entities. Applicants may include but are not limited to tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, nonprofit agencies with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, local and state governments, housing authorities, and small businesses. The program is open to applicants from all U.S. states and territories, including the District of Columbia and several U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands, provided they serve rural populations. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 27, 2026. The estimated posting date for the full application materials is March 13, 2026, and the award notifications are expected to be issued by August 1, 2026, with project start dates scheduled for September 1, 2026. The grant is forecasted to provide 40 awards totaling approximately $4,000,000 in funding. No cost-sharing or matching funds are required. For further information or technical assistance, applicants may contact Lynlee Tanner Stapleton at 301-443-5764 or via email at [email protected]. Additional details about the program, including rural eligibility criteria and strategic objectives, can be found on HRSA’s official program page: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/opioid-response. This opportunity, cataloged under CFDA 93.912, reflects the federal government’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis by empowering rural communities with resources to build long-term, integrated SUD response systems.