Fairfax County’s approach to using opioid settlement funds is guided by the following principles: 
- Align with the County’s Opioid Response Plan
- Fill critical system gaps (i.e. youth treatment services)
- Optimize/enhance existing programs/projects
- Invest in system transformation
- Balance timely use of funds with fiscal responsibility
- Utilize evidence-based/informed approaches
- Continue to leverage existing funding sources where possible
Fairfax County is using opioid settlement funds to advance a total of eight projects, including one Northern Virginia regional partnership project. As the chart below illustrates, these projects collectively reflect the multi-pronged, cross-systems approach that guides the County’s opioid response and are aligned with commonly identified community needs. Additional settlements and payments are anticipated in the future, though the amount and timing is unclear.
As required by the settlements and OAA, Fairfax County separately accounts for the different types of opioid settlement funds: Direct Distribution, Individual OAA Share/Gold Standard, and Cooperative (Competitive) Awards. The Direct Distribution funds (i.e. the funds Fairfax County receives directly) are held in the County’s Opioid Settlement Reserve in the Federal-State Grant Fund and re-allocated to opioid abatement projects upon approval by the Board of Supervisors.