The Helios Alliance hosts a Community Meeting for RFP Launch in Mobile, AL.

On September 4, The Helios Alliance and the City of Mobile held a Community Forum to officially launch the RFP for the Opioid Abatement Award Allocation process. Over thirty organizations attended and engaged with leaders in this space across the region. The event focused on the first award and distribution of opioid litigation settlement funds by the City of Mobile, and those funds currently total around $2.2M.  The Citywill receive additional funding for at least the next 10 years.  

 The Helios Alliance was engaged to conduct a data-driven analysis that will help the City in making the best funding decisions for the settlement dollars that have currently been allocated. As part of this broader effort, Helios has developed and will run a robust RFP process within four priority areas: treatment, prevention, survival programs, and coordination and communication.

At the event, remarks were delivered by:

• Stephen McNair, Director of External Relations – City of Mobile, on the partnership between the City and Helios (link)

• Rayford Etherton, Founder – The Helios Alliance, on the underlying methodology and role Helios will play in the process

• Virginia Guy, Executive Director – Drug Education Council, on the importance of community partnership and leadership in opioid abatement (link)

• Elizabeth Etherton, Chief Strategy Officer – Janus Consultants, on the mechanics of the RFP process and what applicants can expect (link)

As Stephen McNair observed to all present, “The strategy and the plan, it’s unbelievable. It’s truly a testament to innovation and proactivity of people in Mobile. This is not a reactive solution. It’s a proactive solution. What that means is that it's going to find the highest and best use of these funds to help solve these problems.”

The City of Mobile has been clear that these settlement dollars be used for new programs that are innovative and driven by those who know where the gaps are. Virginia Guy challenged attendees “to be innovative and think outside the box” because there is an opportunity to not only use best practices, but also develop new and innovative programs that become the next wave of best practices in dealing with the opioid crisis.”

All information about the Opioid Abatement Award Allocation process, including details about the RFP and related timelines, can be found here.