Minnesotans have suffered tremendously from the opioid epidemic. Data from the Minnesota Department of Health shows that from 2018 to 2022, opioid-related overdose fatalities increased by nearly 200%, reaching an all-time high of 1,039 deaths in 2022. In Steele County, opioid-related overdose fatalities have remained relatively stable, ranging from 1 to 3 per year between 2018 to 2023. Meanwhile, from 2022 to 2024, hospital visits where an opioid dependence diagnosis code was present increased by 162%.

In response to this crisis, the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General has joined several historic multistate settlement agreements. As a result, Steele County is poised to receive approximately $1.5 million over 18 years.

To ensure effective utilization of these funds, Steele County is launching a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify strategies to address the opioid epidemic in Steele County. Funded projects should have a high impact and equitably serve communities impacted by the opioid crisis while aligning with local needs and organizational capacity. Proposals must focus on the following priorities: prevention, treatment & recovery, harm reduction, and/or criminal justice.

Additional Information about Steele County's Opioid Response Initiative:

 
Background on Opioids
Opioid Data
 
There is no active Request for Proposal for the Steele County Opioid Response Initiative. The Request for Proposal will begin fall of 2026 for the 2027 calendar year.

Interested in joining the application review team for the Steele County Opioid Response Initiative Awards? Please contact us at SCPHN@SteeleCountyMn.gov or 507.444.7650. Members of organizations applying for funding, or with another conflict of interest, may not serve on the application review team.

There is no active Request for Proposal for the Steele County Opioid Response Initiative. The Request for Proposal will begin fall of 2026 for the 2027 calendar year.
  • Eligible applicants must serve Steele County residents and may include non-profit and for-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses, healthcare providers, youth groups, neighborhood organizations, schools, and other organizations serving a specific affinity group, cultural community, or geographic area.
  • Applicants may partner to submit a joint application with a designated lead agency for application submission, contracting, and reporting.
  • Applicants may submit proposals for either one-year or multi-year projects.
  • Funding is available for all strategies listed in Exhibit A of the Minnesota Opioids State-Subdivision Memorandum of Agreement.
  • Each application may only include strategies within one part of Exhibit A: 1) Treatment, 2) Prevention, or 3) Other Strategies.
  • Priority will be given to proposals that align with the 2023 Steele County Opioid Funding Prioritization Report: 1) Prevention, 2) Treatment & Recovery, 3) Criminal Justice, & 4) Harm Reduction.
  • Proposals that go beyond the strategies listed in Exhibit A may be considered if they are evidence-informed or based on promising practices (Minnesota's Results First Inventory).

Steele County conducted a funding prioritization survey to gather input from community members. The results will inform local planning for the opioid settlement funds. The survey was offered electronically and on paper, in English, Spanish, and Somali.

To review the survey, access it here, or see below.

Survey in other languages and formats:

The responses were analyzed and the data is presented below in the full report and executive summary.

Full Report
Opioid Funding Prioritization Full Survey

Executive Summary
Opioid Funding Prioritization Executive Summary

Contact Us

Steele County Annex                          635 Florence Ave                  Owatonna, MN 55060
507.444.7650 507.444.7668 SCPHN@SteeleCountyMn.gov