$540K IN OPIOID SETTLEMENT GRANTS AWARDED TO 14 LOCAL INITIATIVES

Portion of opioid settlement funds invested to support treatment, prevention and recovery programs

(Charleston, W. Va.) – Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin today announced 14 Opioid Settlement Grants, totaling $540,000, have been awarded to local organizations. Administered in partnership with the United Way of Central West Virginia and guided by the Opioid Community Council, the grants invest opioid settlement funds in evidence-based treatment, prevention, and recovery initiatives aimed at reducing the impacts of substance use disorder and supporting individuals and families across Charleston.

“These investments represent a meaningful step forward in how we address the opioid crisis in our community,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “By directing settlement funds to organizations doing this work every day, we are strengthening prevention efforts, expanding access to treatment, and supporting recovery in ways that make a real difference for Charleston residents.” 

“These grants represent an important investment in evidence-based solutions that address substance use disorder,” said Margaret O’Neal, President, United Way of Central West Virginia. “We appreciate the City’s leadership in prioritizing accountability and impact as these funds are directed to programs serving individuals and families across Charleston.”

The following organizations were selected based on alignment with approved settlement uses and demonstrated impact.

Cabin Creek Health System / Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Program (treatment) – $50k to reduce barriers to treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder by providing care navigation, warm hand-offs, and connections to essential support services.

FPC Hope Center (prevention) – $15k to expand prevention education, trauma-informed mentoring, and life-readiness programming for young adults transitioning from foster and kinship care, helping reduce the risk of opioid misuse and promote long-term stability.

Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home (recovery)– $25k to expand its recovery campus by increasing bed capacity and reinforcing certified program phases, providing more men with a safe, supportive environment that promotes lasting sobriety. 

Legal Aid of West Virginia (recovery) –$50k to help individuals in recovery overcome legal barriers related to housing, employment, family safety, and transportation through on-site clinics and compassionate legal guidance.

Prestera Health Services (treatment) – $50k to, in partnership with Kanawha Valley Collective, establish “The Living Room,” a low-barrier, community-centered space offering low-barrier support, housing navigation, peer support, and warm handoffs to treatment.

Rea of Hope (recovery) – $45k to provide safe, dependable transportation for women in recovery, ensuring access to medical care, counseling, reunification services, employment, and recovery meetings.

Recovery Point Charleston (recovery) – $50k to transform the Joel Archer House into a safe, home-like space that supports supervised visits, overnight stays, and family-centered healing for mothers in opioid recovery.

Religious Coalition for Community Renewal / Samaritan Inn (recovery) – $26,480 to provide individualized guidance, life-skills coaching, and connections to healthcare, counseling, and workforce opportunities for men affected by opioid misuse, supporting stability and reducing recidivism.

Religious Coalition for Community Renewal / Transitional Storage Center (prevention) – $19,750 to stabilize individuals affected by opioid misuse through low-barrier services such as hygiene access, naloxone distribution, peer outreach, and connections to medical care, behavioral health services, and housing.

The Bob Burdette Center Afterschool & Summer Program (prevention) – $50k to launch a prevention education series that builds confidence and coping skills for children in neighborhoods most impacted by the opioid crisis.

The Neighborhood S.H.O.P. Financial Stability Assistance program (treatment) – $13,770 to support individuals experiencing opioid misuse and housing instability through budgeting assistance, utility support, and life-skills education that help secure or retain stable housing.

West Virginia Health Right Prepped to Serve Appalachia (recovery) – $45,000 to provide hands-on workforce training, mentorship, and wraparound recovery support that helps individuals in recovery build job skills and move toward economic independence.

FamilyCare Health Centers/  Charleston Maternal Treatment Support Program (recovery) – $50k to support pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder through coordinated medical care, behavioral health services, peer support, and Community Health Worker guidance.

Women's Health Center of West Virginia Harm to Healing program (prevention) – $50k to provide trauma-informed, low-barrier access to overdose-prevention supplies, wound care resources, testing, and referrals support pathways into treatment and recovery.

The Opioid Community Council—appointed by Mayor Goodwin and comprised of leaders from public health, law enforcement, and community organizations—provided guidance throughout the review process and will continue to help monitor the use of funds to ensure accountability and impact. 

Background:

Through statewide opioid litigation, the City of Charleston received settlement funds designated for approved uses under the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding. The City prioritized directing a portion of these funds to local prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives through the Opioid Settlement Grant program.

Charleston City Council, through Resolution No. 25-063, authorized the use of these funds and approved a partnership with the United Way of Central West Virginia to administer the program, with guidance from the Opioid Community Council.

In July 2025, the City committed $600,000 to the Opioid Settlement Grant program. Additional settlement funds—$100,000 annually, plus any accrued interest—will be disbursed to the program subject to the City’s receipt of settlement payments, through June 30, 2029.

Read the press release announcing the grant funding opportunity here: https://www.charlestonwv.gov/news-items/mon-08042025-1927/charlestonopioidsettlementgrant.

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