Comprehensive Opioid Use Site-based Program (COAP)

The Comprehensive Opioid Use Site-Based Program (COAP), administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy in Maryland, is a competitive grant initiative aimed at mitigating the impacts of illicit opioids, stimulants, and other substances. Since its inception in 2019, this program has offered support for public safety, treatment, and recovery service integration in both the community and justice system. The COAP grant initiative is backed by state funding, originating from the Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Office of Justice Programs. It enables state and local health departments, including behavioral health authorities and local government agencies, to address overdose crises and improve equitable access to treatment and support services. The program prioritizes engagement with underserved and historically marginalized populations, recognizing the interconnected challenges of substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and systemic inequality. This funding opportunity is designed specifically for short-term initiatives and does not support the creation of new programs. Instead, it focuses on the expansion of already established programs. The funding may be used to support initiatives that provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) or Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), particularly for justice-involved individuals, as well as efforts in jails, prisons, or pre-trial environments to ensure seamless access to treatment and support services. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based approaches, such as the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which connects law enforcement with health services to divert individuals away from the criminal justice system into supportive care. Eligible applicants must adhere to several programmatic and administrative requirements. Each applicant must submit a detailed application through the state’s Grants Management System (GMS), including sections on organizational information, a problem statement, project design, data collection plan, goals and objectives, budget, and staffing plans. Applications must include quantitative and qualitative performance measures. Moreover, applicants must document their program in a manual within six months of award, detailing all policies, procedures, and materials. This is to support national dissemination through the Bureau of Justice Assistance COAP Resource Center. The anticipated funding pool for the State Fiscal Year 2026 COAP grant is $894,500. Each applicant may request between $50,000 and $150,000, with up to eight awards expected to be issued. Funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis and covers eligible expenses including personnel, contractual services, travel, equipment, and operating costs. However, certain costs are not allowed, including lobbying, fundraising, and construction. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this grant. The application opens in September 2025 and closes on September 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. A technical assistance call for prospective applicants will be held on August 12, 2025. Applicants must obtain or confirm their GMS User ID by August 22, 2025, in order to submit. Awards will be announced in September 2025, with the period of performance running from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. The program is recurring annually, and the next application cycle is expected to begin in September 2026. All reporting for grantees, both programmatic and financial, must be submitted quarterly through the GMS. For additional assistance, prospective applicants can contact Grant Monitor Nikita Stackhouse or Fund Manager Jacqueline Adams. Questions related to fiscal matters can be directed to Genevra Farrare, and inquiries related to program design should be directed to Brandi Cahn or Micah Ferguson. The program also encourages coordination with the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center for evaluation support and requires grantees to maintain relationships with national technical assistance providers sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Ensure narrative responses are within strict word limits; use outline format for clarity; incomplete or overlength applications will not be reviewed.