On April 2, the OneOhio Foundation will open its grant application portal, allowing agencies across the state to apply for funds that will go toward opioid recovery, treatment and prevention programs.

We implore local agencies and organizations to take advantage of it.

As part of Region 7 of the OneOhio Foundation, Mahoning and Trumbull counties have the opportunity to apply for a piece of the region’s $2.8 million pie. Region 7 officials such as April Caraway, executive director of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board, and Duane Piccirilli, the Region 7 board president and holds the same position as Caraway in Mahoning County, already have developed strategies in anticipation of the funding becoming available.

When applications are chosen for grant funds, Piccirilli said that funds will be distributed directly to successful grant applicants. However, Piccirilli and the board want to provide as much help as they can when the successful applicants implement their funds. They don’t want to just step away and let the organizations do their own thing, and we must commend them for that.

With the dangers of the opioid epidemic, the Mahoning Valley must take a team approach when it comes to defeating this deadly disease and that’s precisely what people like Piccirilli and Caraway are trying to do.

Rather than stepping back, they want to get their hands dirty. Piccirilli said the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board wants to team up with other organizations on grants and also provide additional funding to any programs that are funded by the OneOhio Foundation.

Now, that’s teamwork, and it’s precisely what needs to be done in a situation like this. Every effort counts when it comes to overcoming something that has plagued not just the area, but the entire state and country.

We also implore successful grant applicants to use their funds wisely in this critical situation. It seems as though a few organizations already have their plans in place to take advantage of the funds when the time comes, which is phenomenal.

The Mahoning County jail is looking to fund its medication-assisted treatment program, which Chief Deputy Sheriff William Cappabiana says is expensive for the taxpayers and “we want to do something to try to offset that cost.”

Bravo!

JoAnn Stock, executive director for Leadership Mahoning Valley and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, said the chamber can help its members with prevention and treatment. In the past, the chamber has discussed the problems that employers are having with retention and hiring because of the crisis and they want to do as much as they can to help.

No matter who receives the money, we ask that the successful applicants have a plan, ask for help if needed and do as much as they can to fight the crisis that has affected so many people across the country. This is a big moment for the region, and we must take advantage of the opportunity.