Written by Brandon Huether, Marketing & Communications Manager
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Family HealthCare a $1.67 million grant from the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund to support treatment and recovery services for individuals with opioid use disorder in Cass County (North Dakota).
The grant will help Family HealthCare implement a sustainable model for screening and initiating Sublocade treatment—a long-acting injectable formulation of buprenorphine—for individuals during incarceration and post-release at the Cass County Jail in Fargo. This innovative approach will ensure a critical bridge from detention to community-based care, improving recovery outcomes and reducing the risk of overdose.
The grant is part of a larger statewide initiative by HHS to allocate opioid settlement funds to projects that prevent opioid misuse, expand treatment access, and strengthen the behavioral health workforce. Funding is drawn from national settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors, with North Dakota projected to receive approximately $60 million over 18 years.
Each grant project, including Family HealthCare’s, began July 1, 2025, under a 24-month contract period. Projects were selected based on alignment with evidence-based practices, recommendations from the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, and their potential community impact.
“These awards reflect our commitment to helping North Dakotans access the support and services they need,” said Pamela Sagness, executive director of the HHS Behavioral Health Division. “As programs are implemented, we continue to see positive outcomes for those seeking recovery from addiction.”
For more information about the North Dakota Opioid Settlement Fund and a list of funded programs, visit hhs.nd.gov/opioids/settlement.
