Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Centers

For program and eligibility questions:
Humberto Carvalho
240.276.2974
Humberto.Carvalho@samhsa.hhs.gov

For fiscal and budget questions:
240.276.1400
FOACSAT@samhsa.hhs.gov

For grant review process and application status questions contact:
Angela Houde
240.276.1091
Angela.Houde@samhsa.hhs.gov

This program (Short Title: ROTA-R) will provide funding to implement regional centers of excellence to develop and disseminate training and technical assistance addressing opioid and stimulant misuse affecting rural communities.

Required activities include:

• Conduct a needs assessment within the region to determine what training and technical assistance is needed within rural communities in the region and identify communities of highest need
• Provide evidence-based training on opioid misuse and use disorder prevention, harm reduction, treatment, or recovery focused on rural communities
• Develop up-to-date resources and information on the harm reduction, prevention, treatment, and recovery of opioid misuse and use disorder such that individuals, families, communities, and practitioners can easily access them and understand the issues related to opioid misuse
• Identify the SAMHSA State Opioid Response (SOR) and/or Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) providers in the jurisdiction and ensure these organizations are included in technical assistance (TA) dissemination plans
• Collaborate with the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTC), Prevention Technology Transfer Centers (PTTC), and Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers (MHTTC) in each HHS region and any additional SAMHSA-funded technical assistance and training (TA/T) programs to assure bi-directional flow of information about resources available from these programs that can applied to rural communities
• Provide linkages to SAMHSA-funded SOR/TOR Technical Assistance (TA) teams, where appropriate, and collaborate with the funded SOR/TOR TA recipient to disseminate available resources from the SOR/TOR TA program applicable to rural providers and communities
• Use innovative technology transfer strategies to: promote the adoption of culturally and linguistically appropriate, evidence-based, and promising practices; and disseminate relevant research findings in the areas of prevention and treatment for substance use and mental disorders that co-occur with OUD and/or stimulant use disorders
• Serve as a resource for community-based and faith-based organizations, recovery community groups, consumers and family members, and other stakeholders, including racial and/ethnic or LGBTQ+-specific organizations, on recovery from OUD, stimulant use disorder, and related mental and/or other substance use disorders

Other allowable activities include:

• Provide enhanced and tailored training and TA opportunities related to opioid and/or stimulant use disorder prevention and treatment for specific populations
• Develop and provide training and other resource materials for a variety of audiences and populations
• Develop, implement, and/or participate in activities aimed at upgrading standards of professional practice for providers of mental and substance use disorders prevention and treatment services, including working with academic institutions that train and educate students for these professions
• Develop strategies and materials to enhance recruitment and retention of mental and substance use disorders treatment practitioners with a specific focus on practitioners to provide services in rural communities

Eligible applicants include:

• Public and nonprofit entities
• States
• Political subdivisions of states
• Tribes
• Tribal organizations

Award ceiling: $650,000 per year
Project period: Up to 2 years
Estimated number of awards: 10
Estimated total program funding: $6,500,000

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.