April 2026

What's inside this month's email?

• Higher Education Opioid Abatement Grants Awarded
• Spring Grant Round Closes
• Priority Strategy Highlight – Family Skills Training
• Opioid Abatement Staff Spotlight

Opioid Abatement Board Awards Institutions of Higher Education Grants

Over $2.1 million were awarded by the Opioid Abatement Board at the March 25 meeting to 10 institutions of higher education. This was the first round of opioid abatement funding eligible to this political subdivision.

Congratulations to the following institutions on receiving an award:

• Connors State College
• East Central University
• Langston University
• Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
• Northeastern State University
• Northwestern Oklahoma State University
• Oklahoma City Community College
• Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
• Rogers State University
• Tulsa Community College

The next round of funding available to this political subdivision will be in Fall 2026. Our office highly encourages eligible institutions intending to apply to begin the planning process. Click the button below for available no-cost resources for project planning available to eligible political subdivisions. 

Spring Grant Round Closed March 31

The 2026 Opioid Abatement Grants for municipalities, counties, public trusts and joint applicants closed on March 31. Twenty-nine grant applications were submitted and will now undergo a comprehensive review by the Opioid Abatement Board and staff.  Grant awards are expected to be announced in August 2026.

Family Skills Training

Family Skills Training is another priority funding strategy adopted by the Opioid Abatement Board. Family Skills training is a program for parents/guardians and their children ages 10 to 14 to learn a variety of skills and tools that can help prevent youth opioid use. This briefing document includes an overview of the evidence-based model Strengthening Families, benefits to youth and families, and what to consider as a community if you are interested in family skills training as an opioid abatement strategy.

To read more about this strategy and if it is a good fit for your community,
click the button below.

Khylee Rankin serves as the Assistant Opioid Response and Grant Coordinator for the Opioid Abatement program.  She holds a Master of Social Work with a concentration in administration and community practice from the University of Oklahoma and is Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Khylee has specialized experience in working with families involved in the child welfare system and children impacted by parental substance use disorders. She brings nearly a decade of experience working with federal grants and joined the Opioid Abatement program in October 2025. A lifelong Oklahoman, Khylee is committed to serving communities across the state.

May Opioid Abatement Board Meeting

Wednesday, May 27 at 1:30 PM
Office of Oklahoma Attorney General
313 NE 21^st Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Office Closed - Memorial Day

The Office of the Attorney General will be closed on Monday, May25 th in observance of Memorial Day. 

Jill Nichols

Opioid Response & Grants Coordinator
Jill.Nichols@oag.ok.gov

Khylee Rankin, LCSW

Assistant Opioid Response & Grants Coordinator
Khylee.Rankin@oag.ok.gov

Isela Perez

Opioid Response Statewide Projects Specialist
Isela.Perez@oag.ok.gov

Traci Ballard

Deputy General Counsel
Traci.Ballard@oag.ok.gov

The individual listed as the primary contact for the university, county, school district, or municipality will automatically receive this email. If other individuals from your institution need to receive it, please send their name and email address to Khylee Rankin, Khylee.Rankin@oag.ok.gov, and she will add them to the list.

About the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Grant

Title 74, sections 30.3 through 30.8 create the Political Subdivisions Opioid Abatement Grants Act. The Act’s purpose is to promote and protect the health of Oklahomans by using monetary grants to abate the opioid crisis in a comprehensive manner that includes cooperation and collaboration with political subdivisions. 

Grants will fund treatment and recovery programs, assistance with co-occurring disorders and mental health issues, opioid abuse education and prevention, proper prescription efforts, and strategies to decrease the supply of narcotics across the state. Grants are rigorously reviewed and approved by the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board comprising of the Attorney General and appointees of the Governor, Speaker of the House, Senate President Pro Tempore, State Treasurer, State Superintendent for Public Instruction, and State Auditor and Inspector.