Opioid Restitution Fund Commission

About

The Opioid Restitution Fund Commission (ORF Commission) expands upon the work of the previous Opioid Collaborative Community Council. The ORF Commission makes recommendations and provides guidance on the use of Howard County’s Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF), which receives annual payments from national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors to mitigate the harms of opioids. The commission is supported in its work by the Office of Community Partnerships within Howard County’s Department of Community Resources and Services.

More information about the Opioid Restitution Fund is available from Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response (state fund), the Howard County Office of Community Partnerships (county fund), and at the bottom of this page under “Resources” (national information). More information about the previous Opioid Collaborative Community Council is also available on this page, including final reports and recommendations, meeting agendas, and meeting minutes.

Current Membership Vacancies

Membership opportunity for student representative

The Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services is seeking a student representative to fill a seat on Howard County’s Opioid Restitution Fund Commission (ORF Commission). Howard County’s ORF Commission assists in determining the use of the funds received in Howard County from opioid litigation settlements. ORF Commission duties include making recommendations on the use of opioid restitution funds in Howard County; reviewing grant applications for opioid restitution funds; and making recommendations for distribution of grant funds.

The individual must:

• Live in Howard County, Maryland
• Be under the age of 19 at the time of appointment
• Be willing to attend and participate in monthly or quarterly Commission meetings
• Be willing to file a statement of financial interest indicating conflicts of interest

The individual applying will ideally have lived experience related to substance use or Opioid Use Disorder. For example, the individual may have personally experienced a substance use disorder, have a family member with substance use disorder, or may have lost a loved one to a substance use disorder-related cause. 

This is a volunteer opportunity and there is no compensation associated with the role. Please contact dheilman@howardcountymd.gov for more information about how to apply

Membership

The ORF Commission’s membership represents a variety of lived and professional expertise in substance use disorder advocacy, prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. The commission consists of 11 voting seats and 10 nonvoting, ex officio seats. The commission’s voting seats include individuals and family members of individuals with opioid use disorder (4); advocates or substance use disorder professionals that provide education, treatment, or prevention (4); certified peer recovery specialists (2); and a student representative. The commission’s ex officio membership represents units across the county government that intersect with impacted populations, such as community human services, health, corrections, the court system, public safety, and schools. A full membership roster is available here.

Duties & Responsibilities

The ORF Commission is tasked with the following duties:

• Make recommendations to the county on the use of the Opioid Restitution Fund, consistent with permissible uses in national and state agreements.
• Review grant applications and make recommendations regarding distribution of grant funds.
• Provide guidance on the frequency of initiating new grant rounds.

The ORF Commission is tasked with the following duties:

• Make recommendations to the county on the use of the Opioid Restitution Fund, consistent with permissible uses in national and state agreements.
• Review grant applications and make recommendations regarding distribution of grant funds.
• Provide guidance on the frequency of initiating new grant rounds.

Upcoming ORF Commission Meetings

The ORF Commission meets quarterly or more frequently. Members of the public are welcome to attend; public participation is invited only during parts of the agenda designated for public comment. Upcoming meeting notices, agendas, and commission-approved meeting minutes will be posted on this page. Meeting agendas and minutes from the previous Opioid Collaborative Community Council are also available below.

The next meeting will be held on:

OCCC Final Recommendations

• OCCC Master ORF Spending Priorities
• OCCC Final Report 2024