To win (RFA) No. 23-10573 Due MONDAY, 9-25-23
[Letterhead: StopTheVoid.org – Jaime Puerta, Founder]
To the Grant Decision Maker or to Whom it May Concern,
I am writing to express my enthusiastic endorsement and unwavering commitment to award “FentanylFathers.org” the esteemed Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Grant. It is with great pleasure and immense confidence that I, Jaime Puerta, the Founder of “StopTheVoid.org,” solidify our partnership with “FentanylFathers.org” to jointly serve as the nation’s two leading High School Fentanyl Awareness Education organizations.
This endorsement and partnership commitment are rooted in the proven track record of both our entities, as we have dedicated the past year successfully presenting to High Schools across the nation. Notably, “StopTheVoid.org” has earned the distinguished title of Fentanyl Resource vendor of Choice for San Bernardino County, while “FentanylFathers.org” has been recognized as the Official Bereaved Parent presenting arm of the DEA. Our collaborative approach and collective expertise make us the ideal recipients of the current grant, as we are poised to address the specific requests outlined in the grant’s Request for Application (RFA).
In particular, we are primed to meet the following grant requirements nearly perfectly:
1. Provide education programs in schools:
a. Example activities:
Partner with schools to implement CDPH, DHCS, CDC-sponsored and/or other evidence-based overdose prevention public education campaigns.
Develop and distribute educational materials and trainings for students, parents, guardians, educators, and staff to raise awareness of naloxone, harm reduction, substance misuse, and overdose prevention.
Promote primary prevention best practices in a school setting to reduce the demand for substances with abuse potential by providing alternative activities and building community and individual resilience.
Establish a student-led, peer-to-peer substance use prevention and education program in a school setting.
Employ evidence-based interventions that provide family, parenting, and other support in addressing risks of student substance use and overdose for parents and guardians across school settings.
2. Increase testing abilities for fentanyl:
a. Example activities:
Work with community partners, provide community-based drug checking, including testing for fentanyl and emerging contaminants in the drug supply, such as xylazine.
Provide community fentanyl education, distribution of fentanyl test strips (FTS), and training on how to use FTS to increase testing in the community.
Purchase and distribute FTS to people who use drugs and organizations who serve people who use drugs, such as syringe services programs.
Provide support for coroners and medical examiners to expand testing for synthetic opioids and chemicals of emerging concern.
3. Support overdose prevention and recovery programs, including making naloxone or other overdose recovery drugs more available in the community:
a. Example activities:
Distribute naloxone in the community to high-risk populations, including people who use drugs; train individuals on how to administer naloxone and respond to a drug overdose; and track naloxone distribution and reversals.
Purchase, install, and support low-barrier naloxone vending machines and/or “naloxboxes.”
Increase access to naloxone availability and distribution through policy or systems change strategies (e.g., working with law enforcement, first responders, jails, schools, libraries).
Improve access to treatment among priority populations by working with substance use disorder (SUD) providers and harm reduction groups.
Expand EMS and law enforcement naloxone leave-behind programs.
Establish and implement community-based, public safety, and public health post-overdose response outreach teams to connect people to harm reduction resources, evidence-based treatment for SUD, and recovery supports.
Our coalition’s ability to seamlessly work together ensures that every High School in Southern California will receive the vital education and resources needed over the next three years. “FentanylFathers.org” and “StopTheVoid.org” stand united in our commitment to fulfilling the grant’s objectives and making a meaningful impact on the prevention of Fentanyl overdoses.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly endorse the selection of “FentanylFathers.org” as the recipient of the Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Grant. Our partnership represents an unparalleled opportunity to advance the cause of Fentanyl awareness and prevention, and I am confident that together, we will effect substantial positive change.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
Jaime Puerta
godclick.com 