The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in collaboration with The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, has announced two distinct funding opportunities aimed at addressing opioid and stimulant use in disproportionately impacted communities across California. These funding initiatives are part of the MAT Access Points Project, which seeks to improve health equity through targeted outreach, education, and treatment access. The available programs include (1) Opioid and Stimulant Use Education and Outreach in 2S/LGBTQIA+ Communities and (2) Opioid and Stimulant Use Disorder Prevention and Education for Communities of Color.
Each program will provide a 24-month contract, with awards of up to $400,000 per grantee. The overarching goal is to promote the prevention of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), Stimulant Use Disorder (StUD), and polysubstance use while expanding pathways to treatment such as Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).
The first program offers $9 million in total funding to support 2S/LGBTQIA+ organizations implementing outreach, prevention, education, and referral systems. These activities are to be carried out specifically within and for California’s 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities.
The second program allocates $18 million to organizations working within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities that are disproportionately affected by substance use and related systemic challenges, including criminalization and limited access to care. Eligible organizations must focus their efforts on BIPOC communities through culturally competent outreach and treatment referrals.
Applications for both funding opportunities are due on May 5, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. PST. Informational webinars will be held on April 14 and April 15, 2025, respectively. To support prospective applicants, The Center is also offering several office hour sessions for live Q&A: April 16, April 21, April 29, and May 2. Access is available via a common Zoom link using the passcode MATSOR4.
The MAT Access Points Project is part of California’s Opioid Response Initiative and is managed by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, headquartered in Sacramento. Interested applicants can access the Requests for Applications (RFAs) directly through The Center's website. For further inquiries, the public can contact the program via email at mataccesspoints@shfcenter.org or by calling 916-993-7701.
