Research to Recovery 2026

A Richmond-centered panel on Opioid Abatement Authority (OAA) funding, using harm reduction as a case study into excellent interorganizational collaboration. The panel will discuss how city, state, and community organizations can use these funding opportunities to build a collaborative continuum of care, exemplified through the implementation of Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Richmond. The panel will also reflect critically on who benefits from these funds, what's missing, and how to sustain collaborative efforts.
 
Objectives:
 
·      Participants will be able to describe the structure and purpose of Opioid Abatement Authority funding and explain how city, state, and community organizations can leverage these resources to build a collaborative continuum of care for people who use drugs.
·      Participants will be able to identify the key elements of successful interorganizational collaboration, using the implementation of Harm Reduction Vending Machines in Richmond as a model for translating OAA funding into community-level harm reduction initiatives.
·      Participants will be able to critically evaluate equity considerations in OAA funding distribution, including who benefits from current allocations, what populations or services remain underserved, and what strategies can sustain collaborative harm reduction efforts over time.