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43 <br /> Obstacles and Solutions <br /> POTENTIAL CHALLENGE PROPOSED SOLUTION <br /> Limited funding for Pursue diverse funding streams, including state/federal grants <br /> CMHWs and insurance reimbursement for SBIRT services. <br /> Need for higher-level care Develop a comprehensive referral network with local treatment <br /> for clients providers. <br /> Workforce burnout Implement regular supervision, professional development, and <br /> operational feedback loops. <br /> Awareness and Use culturally tailored outreach via trusted peer networks, <br /> engagement gaps bilingual materials, and youth advisory input. <br /> Other Funding Sources <br /> In addition to the Orange County Opioid Settlement Funds, EI Futuro will leverage state and <br /> federal funding opportunities, private foundation support, and Medicaid-billable SBIRT <br /> services to maintain and expand program capacity. These resources will ensure long-term <br /> sustainability and integration of early intervention services across Orange County. <br /> C. Equity Impact (8 points, page limit: not to exceed % page). <br /> EI Futuro's proposed SBIRT Early Intervention Program directly addresses health inequities by <br /> prioritizing historically economically disadvantaged Latino youth, young adults, and caregivers in <br /> Orange County and those with high rates of ACEs. These populations experience <br /> disproportionate barriers to behavioral health and substance use services, including language, <br /> cultural stigma, and systemic inequities, which delay care and increase overdose risk. By <br /> providing free, bilingual SBIRT screenings and brief interventions, the project reduces these <br /> barriers and ensures early identification and support for those most at risk of opioid use <br /> disorder (OUD) and co-occurring mental health conditions. <br /> The program explicitly serves uninsured and underinsured individuals, who are often unable to <br /> access care due to financial barriers. Latino residents in Orange County are disproportionately <br /> affected, with over 28% of those under 65 lacking health insurance, compared with 9% of non- <br /> Hispanic white residents (NC DH HS, 2025). EI Futuro leverages a robust referral network to <br /> connect clients to affordable treatment, primary care, and behavioral health services, ensuring <br /> access regardless of insurance status. <br /> In addition, the program addresses social determinants of health (SDOH) by integrating <br /> screenings for housing instability, employment challenges, transportation barriers, and food <br /> 6 <br />