Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Grant Program

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Grant Program is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. OCJS has been designated by Governor Mike DeWine to manage federal funding from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), as outlined under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. This funding supports residential treatment initiatives for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders (SUD). The RSAT program emphasizes enhancing treatment services within correctional settings, supplementing existing offerings with evidence-based programming. The RSAT program is designed to support state correctional facilities, local jails, detention centers, and juvenile correctional facilities. It funds four types of programming: residential treatment, jail-based treatment, aftercare coordination, and jail-based pretrial SUD treatment. The core objective of RSAT is to prepare incarcerated individuals for reintegration into their communities by offering structured, therapeutic environments that focus on behavioral, cognitive, and vocational development. The treatment programs must operate for a minimum of three to six months depending on the facility type, use reliable substance testing methods, and provide pathways to evidence-based aftercare, including medication-assisted treatment when appropriate. Eligibility for RSAT funding is limited to state agencies, state-supported universities, and units of local government or councils of government, including cities, counties, villages, or townships. Joint applicants must designate a lead agency and fiscal officer. All applicants must designate a fiduciary agent responsible for the grant and comply with equal opportunity employment requirements, particularly if they receive Violence Against Women Act funding. Each applicant must also demonstrate collaboration with relevant stakeholders through required letters submitted via the OCJS grants management platform. Applications are submitted through the OCJS Grants Management System and must be in the "Submitted" status by 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2025. Awards cover a 12-month funding period beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. Projects can be either new or continuations of previous RSAT-funded efforts. Proposals will be competitively reviewed by OCJS, with final award decisions made by the Executive Director. All grantees are expected to complete required pre-award documentation electronically and participate in orientation before receiving funding. Fiscal considerations include a required 25% cash or in-kind match from applicants, as RSAT funds can cover up to 75% of project costs. Matching contributions may include local appropriations, private donations, or donated services. Applicants must upload a recent external audit or financial report and enroll in Ohio’s Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system if receiving state payments. Restrictions apply to costs such as travel per diem, equipment, food and beverage purchases, and conference expenses, which must comply with state and federal guidelines. Reporting requirements mandate that RSAT subgrantees submit quarterly performance data via the BJA Performance Measurement Tool by January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. Application components include a problem statement, objectives, project description, timeline, organizational capacity, budget, and collaboration board letters. Additional program guidance and technical assistance are available via email at ajgillard@dps.ohio.gov. OCJS may modify or cancel grant agreements depending on future DOJ policy changes, and grantees must remain flexible and responsive to these potential shifts.