Deadline approaches for Calcasieu Parish Opioid Abatement Grants

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury has officially opened applications for its second annual Opioid Abatement Grant Program, marking another step forward in the local fight against opioid abuse.

The Police Jury has issued a call for projects aimed at combating the crisis.

“The money comes from a national opioid settlement that the state of Louisiana decided to grant to local jurisdictions, parishes, and sheriff’s offices to implement opioid prevention measures,” said Alberto Galan, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Director of Parish Operations. “It’s really an opportunity to be creative, come up with ideas that work in the community, come up with ideas that are eligible for these activities against opioid prevention.”

Some local entities already have plans for the funding. The Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority (IMCAL) intends to direct these funds toward establishing a Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) Urgent Care.

Tanya McGee, IMCAL Executive Director, explained how this initiative connects with existing hospital efforts, specifically the Louisiana Bridge Program.

“We came together and we wrote the grant application to open up a MAT Urgent Care,” McGee said. “This program coincides with a program that we started in our local hospitals, the Louisiana Bridge Program. If somebody comes into a hospital and has an overdose with an opioid, we have peer navigators placed in our hospitals, and we give them linkage to care.”

The grant, combined with the efforts of medical staff, aims to ensure that patients who seek help receive comprehensive support both during and after their treatment.

“My role here is to educate the patients on opioid use disorder, as well as MAT services,” said Jeremy Quebodeaux, a Peer Support Specialist.

Jacob Oswald, a Registered Nurse, emphasized the continuity of care.

“We’ll be having a referral already set up for them and having an appointment scheduled for a follow-up provider, whether that’s here at IMCAL, or with another facility,” Oswald said.

The Opioid Abatement Grant is a reimbursement-based program, meaning eligible organizations will be reimbursed for their expenditures after activities are carried out.

Project ideas must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, July 31.

To apply, click HERE.