Agenda Item Request:
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Authorization for the County Manager to accept award offer of $1,000,000 from U.S. Department of Justice for the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-based Program (COSSUP) 2023.
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Background and Purpose of Request:
Requestor: Liz Blackwell-Moore, Public Health Department
With prior authorization from the Cumberland County Commission and County Manager, the Cumberland County Department of Public Health submitted a proposal in April of 2023 to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for $1,000,000 in response to a Request for Proposals to plan, develop, and implement comprehensive efforts that identify, respond to, treat, and support those impacted by the use and misuse of opioids, stimulants, and other substances. On September 25th, 2023, Cumberland County received notice of an award offer from BJA in the amount of $1,000,000 in response to this proposal.
The Cumberland County Public Health Department currently manages a COSSAP grant, an earlier iteration of the COSSUP grant, in collaboration with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Maine Pre-trail Services, Amistad, Portland Recovery Community Center, and the Co-occurring Collaborative Serving Maine. The ongoing COSSAP grant received a DOJ-approved no-cost extension to account for pauses and delays to programming due to COVID and is scheduled to end on May 3rd, 2024. While the new COSSUP grant period begins on 10/1/23, funds will not be used until May 4th, 2024 as the COSSAP and COSSUP awards may not be used at the same time.
The COSSUP project has a budget of $1,000,000 to be spent over 3 years. No matching funds are required and no additional county funding will be needed to complete the requirements of the grant.
Funding Amount and Source:
$1,000,000; Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Effective Date if Applicable:
October 1st, 2023