The 708 Williamson County Mental Health Board (WCMHB) is pleased to announce the opening of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Request for Applications (RFA) for Opioid Settlement Funding, aimed at combating the opioid epidemic in Williamson County. With an estimated $500,000 available for FY26, this funding offers a critical opportunity for local providers to deliver innovative treatment, prevention, and recovery services to residents affected by Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and co-occurring substance use or mental health conditions.
Applications will be accepted from July 8, 2025, through September 12, 2025, with a submission deadline of 4:00 p.m. Central Time on 09/12/2025. This initiative is part of Illinois’ broader effort to distribute over $1.3 billion in opioid settlement funds by 2038, with Williamson County poised to receive a share of the 25% allocated to local governments. The funds stem from settlements with opioid distributors, addressing a crisis that claimed over 3,000 lives statewide in 2021 alone.
Williamson County has felt the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic, and these settlement funds represent a great opportunity for the community to turn this around. Nonprofits, for-profits, government entities, and individuals—should bring forward legitimate, evidence-based solutions that meet our community’s needs.
Eligible applicants must serve Williamson County residents and focus on opioid remediation strategies outlined in the Illinois Opioid Allocation Agreement, such as expanding Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), enhancing recovery support, or launching prevention programs. Priority will be given to proposals offering innovative approaches, like contingency management pilots recommended by the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board, or services for underserved groups, such as incarcerated individuals ineligible for drug court. The 708 WCMHB anticipates awarding 3-5 grants, with successful projects running from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2026.
Application details and requirements are available under the “News” section of the 708 Williamson County Mental Health Board website at https://williamsoncountymentalhealth.org/. Completed applications must be submitted by email to 708board@williamsoncountyil.govor mailed to Williamson County 708 Board, Attn: Receptionist, 407 N. Monroe Street, Suite 220, Marion, IL 62959, by the 09/12/25 deadline. Late submissions will not be considered. Awardees will be notified by Nov 15, 2025, following review by the WCMHB Finance Committee and Board of Directors.
As Illinois’ Remediation Fund has already received $243.28 million by November 2024, with $772.66 million projected by 2038, Williamson County’s efforts are part of a statewide push to heal communities ravaged by opioid misuse. “This is about building a stronger, healthier future for our residents,” Carter added. “We encourage all eligible organizations to seize this opportunity.”
About the Williamson County Mental Health Board
The 708 Williamson County Mental Health Board is dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of Williamson County residents through funding, oversight, and coordination of community-based services. Located in Marion, IL, the Board administers resources to address critical public health challenges, including the opioid epidemic.
Media Contact:
Sarah Thompson
Office Manager/Resource Specialist
Williamson County 708 Mental Health Board
Phone: 618-997-1301
Email: sthompson@williamsoncountyil.gov
Eligibility criteria:
OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING with Exhibit B and Core
Application:
708-2026-Application-Final OPIOID
Download the PDF Here
