G-2108-17133

RIZE Massachusetts Foundation (RIZE) is an independent nonprofit foundation formed in 2017 through a co-funding relationship with Partners HealthCare, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the GE Foundation and 1199SEIU.

This grant represents the third installment, out of three, of a funding commitment made in 2019 to support RIZE in incorporating oral health within their statewide approach grantmaking and programs focused on opioid use and abuse. Using a collaborative, multi-sector approach, RIZE provides grants to organizations focused on prevention, innovative care approaches to address opioid use disorders and recovery methods.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed that opioid overdose deaths have hit a new peak. Preliminary data show a 5% increase in 2020, which represents 102 more fatalities than occurred in 2019. They also note that the problem varies dramatically by race, with Black men having an increase over 69% in terms of overdose fatalities. Currently, an average of 5 people in MA die from overdose every day.

In prior years, this work focused on behavioral and physical health. Through this partnership, which began in 2019, oral health will continue to be strategically integrated into the approach to address opioid use disorders both within Massachusetts and across the country. Tufts University School of Dental Medicine was awarded a grant in 2019. This project entitled "Controlled Substance Risk Mitigation in Dentistry: Testing a Validated Curriculum for Practicing Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and Oral Surgeons” will deliver and evaluate a series of ten validated controlled substance risk mitigation training modules to Massachusetts practicing dentists, dental hygienists, and oral surgeons. Oral health will continue to be integrated into RIZE's programming throughout the year.

With this next phase of work, some of the activities include: 

Releasing the findings of research being done by the Boston Public Health Commission and research by Brandeis University, which both speak to racial inequities in terms of behaviors by residents and by providers.  

Continuing to implement their 2-year grant program that started in July of this year called Innovations in Anti-Racism to Address the Overdose Crisis.  

Creating and disseminating a Your Rights in Recovery toolkit that is intended for people who suffer from opioid use disorder and their loved ones to understand their rights related to recovery pathways, family resources, housing, education, employment, and the criminal legal system. It also highlights the roles discrimination and racism play in accessing services.  

Additionally, they want to continue to convene and host learning communities, one is in the plans related to their Together in Recovery work for October, which will be a 2-hour virtual event for grantees and partners of theirs.  

The budget for this proposal came in at $333,333, which is allocated toward general operating support associated with the project and strategy.

The overall budget for RIZE is $3,391,139 which means this grant represents about 10% of their total organizational budget.