State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) 4.0 Grant

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health administers the State Opioid and Stimulant Response (SOS) 4.0 Grant as part of its broader responsibility as the federally designated single state authority for behavioral health services. This funding opportunity is supported through federal resources provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is intended to strengthen Ohio’s statewide response to opioid and stimulant misuse. The program builds on prior state and federal investments and reflects a data-driven and outcomes-focused approach to reducing overdose deaths, increasing access to lifesaving medications, and improving long-term recovery outcomes for individuals and communities impacted by substance use disorders. The purpose of this grant is to support a comprehensive continuum of care that includes prevention, opioid overdose reversal medications, treatment services, and recovery supports. Funded activities must align with state and federal priorities, including reducing overdose fatalities, expanding access to evidence-based practices, and increasing availability of harm reduction tools such as naloxone and drug checking technologies. The initiative emphasizes reaching populations disproportionately affected by substance use, including transitional-aged youth and young adults, adults, families, and communities with high rates of overdose and substance misuse. Investments are expected to prioritize evidence-based interventions that promote long-term wellness, social connectedness, and improved health outcomes. Funding may be used to support a range of service areas including treatment through medication-assisted treatment programs, prevention strategies targeting youth and families, and recovery supports such as housing, peer services, and employment assistance. All activities must comply with federal SAMHSA guidelines regarding allowable uses of funds. Applicants are expected to propose programs that demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period and align with statewide goals for behavioral health system improvement. The program does not specify a cost-sharing or matching requirement, and funding allocations are determined based on application quality, budget appropriateness, geographic considerations, and demonstrated need. Eligible applicants include Ohio-based Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Boards, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and certain licensed behavioral health providers. Applicants must meet statutory licensing and certification requirements and demonstrate at least two years of experience delivering prevention, treatment, or recovery services. Nonprofit applicants must be recognized as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) entities, while for-profit organizations must comply with federal financial regulations. All applicants must demonstrate capacity to implement the proposed scope of work and meet reporting and compliance requirements. Applications must be submitted electronically via email and include a structured set of components such as a face sheet, project abstract, detailed project description, staffing plan, prior experience documentation, outcome measurement plan, and a detailed budget narrative. The project description must outline the target population, service approach, implementation timeline, and measurable outcomes. Applications are limited in length and must adhere to strict formatting requirements. Supporting documentation, including budget forms and certifications, must be included at submission. Applications are evaluated through a formal scoring process conducted by a review team. Evaluation criteria include scope of work, implementation plan, organizational capacity, staffing qualifications, and cost effectiveness. Each section is scored on a standardized scale, and final award decisions may also consider geographic distribution and collaboration efforts. The agency reserves the right to negotiate budgets and may decline to fund applications that do not meet program objectives. The application process follows a compressed timeline, with the funding opportunity posted in mid-June and applications due later in the same month. Questions must be submitted prior to a specified deadline and are addressed through a centralized FAQ process. Award notifications are expected approximately two weeks after the application deadline, with projects beginning shortly thereafter and continuing through the end of the funding period. Grantees must comply with extensive reporting and monitoring requirements, including regular programmatic and financial reports, participation in monitoring calls, and submission of final performance reports.

Focus on evidence based practices demonstrate sustainability and align services with target populations and measurable outcomes