Collaborative Strategic Planning

What is this strategy?

Support collaborative strategic planning to address opioid issues, including staff support, facilitation services, or any activity or combination of activities in support of Collaborative strategic planning (as listed in Exhibit C to the MOA)

Why collaborative strategic planning?

There is a lot of important work underway in North Carolina to respond to the overdose crisis. The Opioid Settlement Funds are a critical way to build off these existing efforts.

Collaborative strategic planning allows all people in a community to provide input into developing a plan and facilitates planning that is well-matched to the needs of their community. People who use drugs, and those with a history of drug use, are one of the groups that that should have a real voice in creation of programs and plans designed to serve them.

This strategy allows programs to understand the needs of their community, maximize limited resources, coordinate with key partners, and ensure that services are not duplicated.



Complete List of Resources

The following resources have been compiled by the NC Department of Health and Human Services to help local governments better understand this strategy.
The resources below are organized by level.

Jump to: Introductory Resources | Intermediate Resources | Advanced Resources

Introductory Resources

NC Association of County Commissioners Webinar

A webinar that provides an overview of the collaborative strategic planning process with examples from Cumberland and Gaston Counties

County-Level Poisoning Data

Explore statewide and county-level poisoning data provided by the NC Division of Public Health

Intermediate Resources

Developing Culturally Responsive Resources

A resource designed to help community-based organizations serve the needs of their diverse populations

Human Rights Toolkit: How to Engage People with Lived Experience

Online toolkit that focuses on human rights issues associated with discrimination against people who use drugs

Principles for the Use of Funds From the Opioid Litigation

Five guiding principles to determine the best use of funding compiled by Johns Hopkins University

“Nothing About Us Without Us”—Greater, Meaningful Involvement of People Who Use Illegal Drugs: A Public Health, Ethical, and Human Rights Imperative

A report that examines why it is important to increase meaningful involvement of people who use (or have used) drugs

CDC Drug Overdose Deaths Data

CDC data on drug overdoses involving opioids and other drugs

NC Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan Data Dashboard

See what your county is already implementing to respond to the opioid crisis

Harm Reduction is Healthcare: Sustainable Funding for Harm Reduction Programs

A free, brief e-course on how the healthcare financing system works and how harm reduction programs can tap into opportunities for funding

Centering Racial Equity
Throughout Data Integration

A toolkit to encourage shifts of awareness and practice, by centering racial equity
and community voice within the context of data integration and use

Methods and Emerging Strategies to Engage People with Lived Experience

Report that identifies lessons learned and key considerations for engaging individuals with lived experience

NC Drug User Health Resources Guide

Comprehensive list of health resources by North Carolina region

Advanced Resources

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)

A multi-year initiative providing funding to address barriers to treatment for substance use disorder

Exhibit C to the NC MOA

View details about the collaborative strategic planning process

National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards

Standards intended to advance health equity, improve equality, and help eliminate health care disparities

A circle graphic with an envelope image inside

For more information, contact opioidsettlement@dhhs.nc.gov 
or nidhi.sachdeva@ncacc.org