Tools for Preventing Overdose Engagement Workgroup Registration Form

Tools for Overdose Engagement Workgroup Information

Registration Submission Information
All registration forms are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, February 20, 2026, and must be submitted online.

Notification regarding Change Team selection will be sent by email by Friday, February 27.

Questions about the registration form or this program? Contact Samantha Sawyer at SamanthaS@thenationalcouncil.org

Information Form
To learn more about the Tools for Preventing Overdose Engagement Workgroup and to preview the registration questions, please refer to the Information Form.

Overview
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are pleased to announce the Tools for Preventing Overdose Engagement Workgroup, taking place from March through July 2026.

This 5-month training and technical assistance (TTA) opportunity will bring together local and regional public health agencies, community-based organizations (CBOs) and subject matter experts to identify ways to overcome challenges faced by overdose prevention programs in order to maximize their impact. Approaches to maximizing impact will be discussed in various existing frameworks, such as implementation science, knowledge translation, knowledge to action, evidence-based decision-making etc., that will allow participants to assess and plan for the uptake and implementation of evidence-based practices and research into regular use.

This Engagement Workgroup will:

Discuss obstacles and facilitators to the uptake, scale and sustainability of overdose prevention practices and programs.
Identify strategies to overcoming challenges to increase program sustainability.
Develop an action plan to enact change(s) to address identified challenge(s) within one’s own organization, programming and/or service provision.
Participants will be introduced to existing frameworks that may help provide common language or existing concepts to consider for action planning (e.g., Implementation Science, Knowledge Translation, Knowledge to Action, Evidence Based Decision Making, etc.).

Participation Eligibility
This opportunity is open to any local and regional public health department or agency and CBOs, including community behavioral health organizations (CBHOs) and certified community behavioral health clinics.

Participating organizations will register as a “change team” with 3-5 staff members per team representing a balance of expertise, roles, and perspectives that can drive implementation efforts effectively. Teams are highly encouraged to include staff with lived/living experience of substance use and/or overdose as members of the change team. People with lived and living experience (PWLLE) provide crucial perspectives on overdose prevention programming and services stemming from personal experience, including knowledge of community conditions, needs, challenges and resources, which are critical to program design, implementation and delivery. Change teams could include, but are not limited to, staff in the following roles and/or with the following responsibilities related to overdose prevention programming:

Project/program management expertise (e.g., Project/Program Director)
Leadership with decision-making authority (e.g., chief program officer)
Evaluation/quality improvement expertise (e.g., Evaluator)
Engagement/outreach expertise (e.g., Engagement Specialist, Community Liaison, Case Manager, Care Coordinator, Peer Specialist)
Clinical expertise (e.g., clinical/community-based supervisor or someone who understands clinical workflows and can help align engagement efforts with service delivery/implementation)

Agencies and organizations may register individually, though we encourage those interested to connect with and encourage others in their catchment area/community to apply as well. For example, a local public health agency may suggest to a community partner that they should register as well to maximize benefit to their community.

Up to 10 change teams will be selected to participate in the Engagement Workgroup (e.g., 5 local or regional health agencies and 5 CBOs*).

*Please note that CBOs will be provided with a $3,000 organizational honorarium to support their participation in the Workgroup.

Program Overview and Activities
From March through July 2026, the Engagement Workgroup will participate in:

Ongoing virtual training and technical assistance (TTA) via:

- Monthly 90-minute virtual sessions on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 3-4:30 p.m. ET.
  - March 17, 3-4:30 p.m. ET (kick-off/orientation)
  - April 21, 3-4:30 p.m. ET
  - June 16, 3-4:30 p.m. ET
  - July 21, 3-4:30 p.m. ET
- Cohort collaboration opportunities centered around topics identified based on cohort needs.
- Light, interim work between sessions as a change team.
- Support developing and finalizing an action plan.
- Bi-weekly newsletters/e-Digests catered to the workgroup including program updates, resources and upcoming events, as available.
Optional ad hoc coaching calls with SMEs, depending on availability.
In-person, 1.5-day Engagement Forum convening May 18-19, 2026* in Washington, DC.

*Note: Travel expenses and hotel accommodations for 2 nights will be covered for up to 4 individuals per team by the National Council.

Selected teams should be available to participate in all program activities, including monthly calls and the in-person convening. The estimated time commitment for participation in this 5-month program is roughly 2-4 hours/month, except for the in-person convening in May (1.5-day commitment), plus travel.

This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $400,000 with 100% funded by CDC/HHS. The content is that of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS or the U.S. government.

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