Justin Apperson
Hosted by
AppalReD Legal Aid
Sponsored by
Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts
Opportunities
Opioid Crisis Response Program
The federal government has declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency. It is well recognized that the Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) epidemic cannot be addressed without multi-disciplinary interventions, and lawyers play a critical role in the fight to overcome this public health emergency. Lawyers can decrease barriers to treatment and recovery and improve health outcomes by advocating for the rights of clients to have stable housing, receive financial and medical benefits they are entitled to, and to help keep families safe and together. Lawyers can also collaborate with and educate the community, the justice system, administrative agencies, and social services about cross-system legal impacts to mitigate legal barriers to successful recovery and while leading the charge to systemic change.
The Equal Justice Works Opioid Crisis Response Program mobilizes lawyers (Attorney Fellows) to provide education and direct civil legal services to OUD-affected communities in need of legal services. This program focuses on removing legal barriers and providing access to wraparound services and treatment for OUD clients in underserved communities.
Fellowship Overview & Benefits
- Attorney Fellows earn a salary over the course of their two-year Fellowship term
- Build capacity at legal service organizations responding to the opioid crisis
- Equal Justice Works Leadership Development Training in Washington, D.C.
Applications now open!
Click here to view opportunities
Applications being accepted on a rolling basis
OCRP: Call to Action
- 93k+ drug overdose deaths were reported in 2020—the highest ever recorded
- ~88% of deaths resulting from opioid overdoses involved synthetic opioids
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Through the Opioid Crisis Response Program, we can [...] help promote recovery and stability for individuals, families, and communities.
Verna Williams
CEO, Equal Justice Works - 10x more overdose deaths involving opioids were reported in 2021 than in 1999
Have questions or interested in funding?
[email protected]
See the Work in Action
How the Opioid Crisis Response Program Is Creating Pathways to Recovery
The opioid crisis is often told in numbers, but the real impact is found in the daily challenges people face when seeking stability and treatment. Equal Justice Works’ Opioid Crisis Response Program was created to place legal services directly where communities need them most. Read on to learn about the impact of the inaugural class of Opioid Crisis Response Program (OCRP) Fellows.
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