Dear DSAMH Providers,

DSAMH is issuing a temporary deferment of the recovery support scholarships (formerly under the Opioid Impact Fee fund, commonly called “OIFF scholarships”) effective Friday, April 28, 2023, 12:00am EST due to reaching the maximum capacity of funding available.   During this pause, applications will not be accepted or processed.  Our provider community has been notified of this.

Using data-driven strategies, DSAMH leveraged its allocation from Delaware’s Opioid Impact Fee (OIF) to offer Recovery Support Scholarships for persons with a SUD diagnosis aimed to help increase a client's retention and engagement in treatment and recovery support services. These funds are now exhausted and other DSAMH financial resources exclude funds to be used for recovery support scholarships.  Since March 2021, the Recovery Support Scholarships have helped address the social determinants of health that affect an individual’s overall health and treatment outcomes by connecting the individuals to resources and wraparound supports within their communities. 

We assure you that this hiatus is a temporary measure!  As stewards of this service, we understand the impact the Recovery Support Scholarships have provided to our population served and the community-at-large.  It is our goal to re-launch this service at the beginning of State Fiscal Year 2024 (approximately July 1, 2023).  This temporary program pause will allow DSAMH to modify program guidelines and manage application volume.  We ask that all remain patient over the next few months because these changes are necessary for program sustainability and are in the best interest of those we serve.  Anticipated modifications to the Recovery Support Scholarship program guidelines will include:

• Strengthening client eligibility parameters to include referral pathways based on client acuity
• Increasing documentation requirements
• Aligning the program assistance amount to meet demand

Any further inquiries can be sent to DHSS_DSAMH_HISD@delaware.gov.