OSI Issues RFP for New $10 Million Initiative Aimed at Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap

BALTIMORE—The Open Society Institute (OSI) issued the first call for proposals for its Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap initiative. The $10 million initiative is designed to increase the availability of resources for the delivery of high-quality treatment for drug and alcohol addiction for all who need it.

“More than 22.5 million Americans suffer from substance abuse or dependence,” notes Victor A. Capoccia, Ph.D., Director, Initiative on Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap, quoting a statistic from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies. He continues, “Four out of the five Americans who need help are unable to get addiction treatment, either due to lack of health insurance, inadequate insurance, or lack of addiction treatment in their communities.”

“Now we have the opportunity to address the issue nationally,” says George Soros, Founder of the Open Society Institute. He contends the importance of calling “attention to the short-sighted allocation of public funds, leading to a huge gap in the availability of drug addiction treatment for people without adequate insurance.”

Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap grant applicants must identify a common geographic area within which they will affect change. Partnerships at the state, county, or city level are welcome to apply. Applicants are asked to demonstrate success and assess their level of readiness on two key strategies: building awareness of the treatment gap among stakeholders, and the implementation of effective strategies for increasing insurance coverage, increasing government appropriations, and/or improving the efficiency and effectiveness of treatment available.

The Open Society Institute welcomes other foundations and funding partners to join OSI in this historic initiative.

A minimum of six grants will be awarded in this call for proposals. Completed proposals are due to OSI no later than April 11, 2008. For a copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP) outlining eligibility criteria, key dates and submission requirements, please see the initiative guidelines.

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The Open Society Institute, a private operating and grantmaking foundation, works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. OSI works in over 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as in the United States.