FFC presented to OERAC
June 12, 2026 — The Fentanyl Free Communities Foundation (FFC) presented to Minnesota's Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (OERAC) on June 12, sharing the organization's community-level work across the state and reinforcing the message that the fentanyl crisis is measured in lives, not just numbers.
FFC brought its Faces of Fentanyl Display to the presentation as a visual reminder of the people behind the epidemic. FFC Policy Board Co-Chairs Paul Ostrow and John Kingrey led the presentation, outlining the organization's ongoing initiatives, including overdose prevention and harm reduction programs that have expanded Narcan distribution across Minnesota communities, and a track record of community events and forums held over the past several years.
The co-chairs also pointed to a recent policy success: the Minnesota Department of Education's decision to update its rules to include fentanyl-specific content in school health education materials. Ostrow and Kingrey emphasized that FFC's work directly supports OERAC's mission to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide response to the opioid addiction and overdose epidemic. Specifically, they highlighted that FFC:
- Sponsors research that serves as a credible resource for local, state, and federal fentanyl education and harm prevention efforts - Maintains a broad network of families and individuals directly impacted by the fentanyl crisis, giving OERAC an authentic, on-the-ground perspective
- Deploys volunteer lobbyists to advance legislative and advocacy priorities at the Capitol and beyond
- Leverages social media partnerships to expand the reach of shared goals and life-saving programs OERAC oversees millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds directed toward evidence
-based prevention, treatment, and community training throughout Minnesota.
FFC's presentation reinforced a shared belief that grassroots advocacy and statewide policy are stronger together and that the partnership between community organizations and state agencies can save lives. FFC will continue working alongside OERAC and other state partners to advance fentanyl education, harm reduction, and prevention efforts across Minnesota.
