Oklahoma is navigating a critical opportunity to address the opioid crisis through settlement funds dedicated to prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction. These dollars reflect a strong commitment by the Attorney General’s Office and the Opioid Abatement Board to ensure that resources are deployed responsibly, strategically, and in alignment with evidence-based practices.

At the same time, it has become clear that many eligible communities - particularly smaller and rural jurisdictions - continue to face challenges accessing these funds, not due to lack of need, but because of the complexity involved in preparing competitive, compliant applications.

The issue is not intent or oversight - it's capacity.

Understanding the Participation Gap

In recent funding cycles, only a portion of Oklahoma’s eligible political subdivisions submitted applications for Opioid Abatement Grant funding. Many jurisdictions - especially counties, municipalities, and school districts with limited administrative staff - either did not apply or found it difficult to meet the program’s technical requirements on their first attempt.

This is not unusual for highly structured funding programs designed to protect public resources. The Opioid Abatement Grant Program requires careful alignment with statutory purposes, approved strategies, and documentation standards. For communities without dedicated grant staff, navigating these requirements alongside day-to-day operations can be challenging.

Why Capacity-Building Matters

Opioid abatement funding is intentionally designed to ensure accountability and long-term impact. While this structure strengthens the integrity of the program, it also underscores the importance of technical assistance - especially for smaller communities working with limited resources.

Recognizing this, the Attorney General’s Office and the Opioid Abatement Board have emphasized expanded education, clearer guidance, and regional workshops to help applicants better understand expectations and prepare stronger submissions. These efforts signal a shared goal: ensuring that all eligible communities have a fair opportunity to participate.

Capacity-building is not about lowering standards. It is about equipping communities to meet them.

The Role of Technical Assistance and Collaboration

As Oklahoma continues refining its approach to opioid abatement funding, one opportunity lies in strengthening support structures that help communities translate need into compliant, evidence-based proposals. This includes:

• Developing needs assessments aligned with state guidance
• Connecting local data to approved strategies
• Supporting collaboration across regions and jurisdictions
• Helping applicants prepare for post-award administration and reporting

These supports complement the work of the Attorney General’s Office and help ensure that funds are deployed efficiently and equitably.

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How SOAR Partners Supports Communities and State Goals

SOAR Partners works alongside public entities and community organizations across Oklahoma to support grant readiness, application development, and long-term compliance. Our work is designed to align with - and reinforce - the expectations set by the Attorney General’s Office, helping communities navigate complexity while maintaining program integrity.

By supporting needs assessments, evidence-based program design, grant writing, and post-award administration, SOAR helps communities participate more effectively in the opioid abatement process - allowing state leadership to focus on oversight, strategy, and impact.

Moving Forward Together

Opioid settlement funds represent a significant opportunity for Oklahoma communities and state leadership alike. Ensuring that eligible entities have the support they need to engage with the program strengthens outcomes for everyone involved.

As Oklahoma continues advancing its opioid abatement strategy, partnerships between state leadership, local communities, and technical assistance providers can help turn shared goals into measurable results.

Need Support Navigating the Opioid Abatement Grant?

If your community is preparing to apply for opioid abatement funding - or seeking to strengthen its readiness for future cycles - SOAR Partners is here to help.

We support cities, counties, school districts, higher education institutions, and public entities across Oklahoma with needs assessments, grant development, and compliance planning aligned with OAG expectations. Contact us at info@soar.partners to get help today.

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