Across Oklahoma, opioid settlement funds represent a rare opportunity to make long-term, evidence-based investments in prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction. Yet for many eligible entities—particularly counties, municipalities, school districts, and higher education institutions—the first and most significant barrier is not funding availability. It is the needs assessment.

Under Oklahoma’s Opioid Abatement Grant program, a needs assessment is more than a formality. It is a foundational requirement that shapes program eligibility, funding competitiveness, and long-term impact. Done well, a needs assessment strengthens applications and ensures that funded strategies align with real community needs. Done poorly—or skipped altogether—it is often the reason applications are denied or never submitted at all.

Below are key considerations communities should keep in mind when approaching an opioid abatement needs assessment.

1. A Needs Assessment Is Not Just Data Collection

One of the most common misconceptions is that a needs assessment is simply a compilation of overdose statistics or treatment counts. While quantitative data is essential, it is only one piece of the picture. Strong needs assessments combine quantitative data (overdoses, EMS calls, prescribing trends, treatment capacity) with qualitative input from stakeholders who understand how the opioid crisis is affecting people on the ground.

This includes law enforcement, healthcare providers, schools, recovery organizations, and individuals with lived experience. Without this context, data alone rarely tells the full story of service gaps or implementation challenges.

2. Alignment With Approved Strategies Matters

Not all needs assessments are created equal—and not all needs align with allowable uses of opioid settlement funds. Oklahoma’s Opioid Abatement Grant program prioritizes specific evidence-based strategies, such as medications for opioid use disorder, recovery housing, school-based prevention, family skills programs, and harm reduction.

A strong needs assessment goes beyond identifying problems and connects local needs directly to approved strategies. Applications are far more competitive when reviewers can clearly see how community data supports the proposed intervention and aligns with state guidance.

3. Local Capacity Should Be Assessed Honestly

Needs assessments are not only about identifying community problems—they should also examine implementation capacity. This includes existing service providers, staffing levels, partnerships, and administrative readiness.

Many communities struggle not because the need is unclear, but because capacity limitations are not addressed upfront. A thoughtful assessment acknowledges these realities and designs solutions that are realistic, scalable, and sustainable.

4. One Size Does Not Fit All—Especially in Rural Communities

Rural and smaller jurisdictions face different challenges than larger metro areas. Transportation barriers, limited treatment access, workforce shortages, and geographic isolation all shape what effective opioid abatement looks like locally.

Needs assessments should reflect these nuances rather than rely on generic templates. Reviewers can quickly identify assessments that lack local specificity, which can weaken an otherwise strong application.

5. The Needs Assessment Should Be Grant-Ready

Finally, a needs assessment should not live in isolation. It should be grant-ready - written clearly, supported by credible data, and structured so it can be incorporated directly into application narratives.

When needs assessments are prepared without grant requirements in mind, applicants often have to redo work under tight deadlines. Integrating the assessment with the application process saves time, reduces stress, and improves overall quality.

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How SOAR Partners Can Help

For many communities, the biggest challenge is not recognizing the importance of a needs assessment—it’s finding the time, expertise, and capacity to complete one correctly.

SOAR Partners supports public entities, schools, and higher education institutions across Oklahoma by developing OAG-aligned, evidence-based needs assessments that are designed specifically for opioid abatement funding. Our approach combines data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment to ensure assessments are accurate, actionable, and ready for grant submission.

If your organization is considering applying for opioid abatement funds and needs support with a compliant needs assessment -or wants to ensure your assessment strengthens your application - SOAR Partners is here to help.

Reach out to us at info@soar.partners to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward turning opioid settlement funds into meaningful community impact.

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