January 14, 2026 - OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND BOARD HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING

The Board of Directors of the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit responsible for overseeing the distribution of 55% of Ohio’s opioid settlement funds, convened its January public board meeting today and celebrated the opening of the Regional Grant Cycle 2 Grant Portal and Funding Inquiry window, which will remain open until February 11.

Board Chair Don Mason opened the meeting by welcoming directors and guests back after the holidays and offering reflections on the Foundation’s priorities for the year ahead. 

“As we step into 2026, I’m genuinely excited about what we will accomplish together in the year ahead. The work we do matters deeply to communities across Ohio, and I’m grateful to be doing it alongside each of you,” said Mason. “I’m especially energized by the launch of Regional Grant Cycle 2, which represents a critical opportunity to expand access to resources, strengthen regional partnerships, and accelerate meaningful, community-driven solutions. Here’s to a year of progress, collaboration, and lasting impact.”

Following Mason’s remarks, OneOhio Executive Director Alisha Nelson introduced Stephanie McCracken and Rachel Blayney of the Ohio Department of Health, who presented on the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and the data sources available to monitor drug overdose trends. McCracken serves as the SUDORS epidemiologist, while Blayney is the Epidemiology Supervisor for the Ohio Violent Death Reporting System.

Executive Director Nelson then invited Dr. Gretchen Clark Hammond with OneOhio’s grant evaluation partner, Mighty Crow, to provide an update on the Regional Grant Cycle 1 grant evaluation process and the potential impact of grant dollars actively being invested in communities across Ohio. 

Following Dr. Hammond’s update, OneOhio Director of Partnership & Outreach Sarah Anstine provided an update on the Regional Grant Cycle 2 process and the work ahead in 2026. 

“Today is an incredibly exciting day as we officially launch the new grant portal and open the Regional Grant Cycle 2 Funding Inquiry window,” said Nelson. “In preparing for another impactful year, we’ve taken time to listen to stakeholders and apply what we’ve learned to ensure this new grant cycle runs smoothly and efficiently so settlement dollars can get to work in communities as quickly as possible, while maintaining a strong focus on measurable impact and preventing conflicts of interest.”

The Board then heard the following committee reports:

• Audit and Finance Committee Chair Evan Kleymeyer provided an update on the Foundation’s unaudited October and November financial reports, which the Board voted to approve. 

• Personnel Committee Chair Julie Ehemann provided an update on the new staff benefits program and new policies included in the personnel handbook.

• Investment Committee Chair Jim White reported that the Committee will hold final interviews on Wednesday afternoon to select a long-term investment advisor for the Foundation.

• Grant Oversight Committee Chair Tom Gregoire updated the board on the committee’s work over the past several weeks and thanked OneOhio staff for their work to launch Regional Grant Cycle 2. 

The Board then adjourned until its next public meeting, to be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio offices located at 209 E. State St. in Columbus.