Address The Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons

Gaston County requests proposals for Addressing the Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons and services to address the opioid epidemic in our community.

Gaston County will receive more than $40 million over 18 years as part of the National Opioid Settlements that will bring critical support to help communities harmed by the opioid

epidemic. Gaston County leaders, healthcare partners, treatment providers, stakeholders, those with lived experience, and others helped develop the County’s initial opioid settlement spending plan. As part of the spending plan, $350,000 will be invested in Addressing the Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons under Exhibit B, Strategy D, as defined by the North Carolina Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the State and local governments. The MOA directs how opioid funds are distributed and used across the state.

The $350,000 for Addressing the Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons will be allocated through a competitive community application process. The County is currently accepting submissions for proposals that address the following identified needs in our community:

1. Support pre-arrest or pre-arraignment diversion and deflection strategies for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, including established strategies such as:

a. Self-referral strategies such as the Angel Programs or the Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI)

Funding period: January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Proposals must meet a minimum threshold of $20,000 for the funding period.

Applicants should review the full text of the NC MOA and additional information at the NC MOA Resource Center.

Additional note for proposals to expand an organization’s current programming

Please explain your organization’s funding structure and why you are unable to meet the current demand.

Additional Requirements

To support transparency, accountability, and organizational capacity, all applicants must also include the following documentation as part of their submission:

1. Disclosure of Previous Criminal Charges

Applicants must disclose any prior criminal charges for organizational leadership, program staff proposed under this funding, or governing board members, when relevant to program oversight, fiscal management, or service delivery. Disclosures should include:

• Nature of the charge(s)
• Date(s) of occurrence
• Resolution or current status
• Any corrective actions taken by the organization to ensure compliance, ethics, and accountability

This information will be reviewed solely to assess risk, ensure appropriate safeguards, and verify the organization’s capacity to operate programs funded through the opioid settlement.

2. Submission of Most Recent Financial Audit

Applicants must submit a copy of their organization’s most recent, independently conducted financial audit or financial review. Audits must demonstrate:

• Sound fiscal management practices
• Adherence to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Identification of any material findings or corrective actions

If the organization does not conduct annual audits, applicants must provide a written explanation and submit alternative financial documentation (e.g., CPA-reviewed financial statements).

3. Certificate of Insurance

Applicants must submit a copy of the organization's certificate of insurance.

Core Principles

Gaston County is committed to investing opioid settlement funds in programs that:

1. Address health disparities
2. Avoid duplication of effort
3. Demonstrate collective impact by leveraging other funding sources
4. Consider sustainability in their proposal
5. Demonstrate potential for strong impact and outcomes
6. Follow a trauma-informed model
7. Reduce stigma
8. Support equitable outcomes for historically marginalized populations
9. Use the evidence-based harm reduction approach
10. Expand programs with successful outcomes