FORE Spotlights Rural OUD Treatment Innovations as Federal Funds Flow

Event summary

  • FORE released an issue brief on March 25, 2026, detailing 10 rural opioid treatment programs funded by its grants
  • The brief highlights tele-mentoring, mobile paramedic programs, and community partnerships as key solutions
  • North Carolina's program reached 4,000 patients across 88 counties using FORE funding
  • FORE has awarded $52.6 million across 130 grants since 2018
  • A webinar with grantees and state leaders is scheduled for March 26, 2026

The big picture

FORE's brief arrives as rural communities face worsening opioid crisis disparities, with 20% of the U.S. population lacking equitable treatment access. The $52.6 million in grants represents strategic leverage of federal funds to test scalable models. Success could pressure other funders to replicate these approaches in underserved areas.

What we're watching

Funding Utilization
How effectively states deploy Rural Health Transformation Program dollars through FORE-backed models
Scalability Challenges
Whether community-driven approaches can maintain impact as federal funding cycles change
Workforce Development
The pace at which rural areas can address provider shortages through FORE's training initiatives