Community Advocacy Panel
The Opioid Abatement Council is required by law to "allow for comment and input from community stakeholders, local governments, state and local public health officials, public health advocates, law enforcement and judiciary representatives, opioid remediation service providers, and other parties interested and actively involved in addressing the opioid crisis and its abatement." T.C.A. § 33-11-105.
- Our Mission
The Panel will provide a platform for those with living experiences to:
1. Inform the OAC about the personal and community impacts of opioid use disorder (OUD).
2. Identify gaps in services and propose tailored solutions.
3. Advocate for strategies to reduce stigma and enhance public awareness
4. Promote transparency and accountability in the use of opioid settlement funds.
It should be noted that any proposal received by the Panel will be non-binding and will not be effective unless adopted by the Council.
- Vision Statement
Opioid Abatement Council Vision
"To approve and allocate the dollars through the Opioid Trust Fund so that Tennesseans struggling with opioid addiction with or without chronic pain find relief and pathways of recovery to bring hope and restoration through effective and transparent work for all Tennesseans, which will bring prevention and support for those families impacted by opioid use disorder.”
- Our Work
During the March 18, 2024, OAC meeting several family members of individuals who passed away due to opioid use disorder spoke during public comment about their loved one’s living experiences.
During the June 18, 2024, OAC meeting, the Council approved the motion giving the Executive Director the authority to begin developing a process for a Community Advocacy Panel.
In response, the Council Office developed a Proposal, which provides an overview of the purpose, structure, and operational functions and timeline required for the successful implementation of the Panel.
- Photo Gallery

This photo was taken during the March 18th, 2024, OAC meeting. There were several family members of individuals who passed away due to opioid use disorder speaking during public comment about their loved one’s living experiences.
- Panel Members
Panel members will develop a consensus from input received from the community and report ideas on possible solutions, which will improve transparency, establish accountability, and inform the OAC decisions for the implementation of funding programs, strategies, expenditures, and all other actions designed to prevent and address the effects of the opioid epidemic.
(List of all Panel members with biography and terms listed COMING SOON)
Panel Member Term of Service
The term of service for Panel members will be two (2) years. If a member is appointed to serve the remainder of a term vacated by a previous member, they will serve out that term and be eligible for reappointment to a full term.
- Panel Composition
The Panel will consist of 16 members, including two representatives from each of Tennessee's seven regions and two members from affiliate organizations who will serving as Chair and Co-Chair.
The map below shows the seven (7) regions in which the fourteen (14) Community Advocacy Panel regional members will represent and be selected:
Community Advocacy Panel Organizational Chart
- Meetings
Panel Meetings
Panel members will meet quarterly, primarily in virtual formats, to ensure broad participation. The meetings will focus on identifying regional needs, consolidating community feedback, and providing actionable recommendations to the OAC.
Although the Panel’s proposals will be for advocacy, their input is expected to play a significant role in shaping state strategies for combating the opioid epidemic.
All meetings will be open to the public and meeting dates and times will be published on this webpage.
- Panel Operational Guidelines Summary - Link to working Panel document
The Opioid Abatement Council directs the disbursement of the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund to ensure the disbursements of these funds go toward funding programs, strategies, expenditures, and other actions designed to prevent and address the misuse and abuse of opioid products and treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders or other effects of the opioid epidemic.
OAC Program Director
The OAC Program Director has been designated to design, implement, and lead the operations of the Community Advocacy Panel.
Chair and Co-Chair
Key Responsibilities of Chair and Co-Chair: • Lead Panel meetings
• Set the agenda
• Seek to ensure information received is accurate, timely and sufficient to keep other Panel members informed
• Facilitate open and constructive communication
• Liaising and interfacing with the Opioid Abatement Council’s Program Director
• In the absence of the Panel Chair, the Panel Co-Chair will be responsible for executing the key responsibilities and all other duties determined by the Council and Council Office.
Community Advocacy Panel Regional Members
The Community Advocacy Panel regional members are those members who will be selected by the Council to serve as non-voting representatives of their region. The two (2) Community Advocacy Panel regional members from each of the state’s seven (7) regions will be tasked with becoming familiar with the needs of their region, engaging with the community, and providing feedback that will assist in providing resolutions to region and statewide needs.
The Community Advocacy Panel will have the following positions:
• Chair
• Co-Chair
• Secretary
• Co-Secretary
These positions will be nominated and selected based on the operational guidelines. The Secretary will be tasked with the writing of the Panel meeting minutes and relaying any communication the Panel approves to be presented to the Council.
In the absence of the Secretary, the Panel Co-Secretary will be responsible for executing the key responsibilities and all other duties determined by the Council and Council Office.
All Panel members will be required to attend orientation and training to ensure awareness of the primary purpose and responsibilities of the Council.
The orientation will provide an opportunity for Panel members to ask questions and request any additional information needed to prepare for active and successful participation to serve on the Panel.
Each Panel member will be required to attend an annual virtual training session. The training will be focused on the administrative activities of the Panel and current matters of the opioid crisis.
The Opioid Abatement Council Program Director will develop new member orientation and training for Panel members.
The orientation will include, but not limited to the following:
• Overview of Opioid Abatement Council
• Effective Communication
• Meeting Etiquette
• Open Meetings Act
• Planning & Policy Needs Assessment Summary
• Operational Guidelines
• All Other Opioid Concerns
The Council Office works with Affiliate State Organizations and other organizations that have experience with those affected by opioid use disorder to request referrals for two (2) non-voting candidates for Chair and Co-Chair.
The Affiliate State Organizations are those organizations that have affiliation with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) as seen in the list provided below:
• Tennessee Voices
• National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Tennessee
• Tennessee Mental Health Consumers’ Association (TMHCA)
• Tennessee Association for Alcohol, Drug, and other Addiction Services (TAADAS)
• Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organization (TAMHO)
List of other organizations who provides referrals to the Council Office include the following:
• Healthcare Providers (Hospitals, Treatment Centers, Physicians and Pharmacists)
• Government Agencies (Health Departments, Criminal Justice, Social Services)
• Community-based Organizations (Prevention, Faith-Based, Nonprofits or Foundations)
• Education (schools and youth programs)
• Legal and Law Enforcement (Drug, Juvenile and Mental Health Courts, Police/Sheriff’s and Public Defender / Legal Aid Services)
• Insurance (Private and Public)
• Veteran / Military Support Organizations
Please watch this webpage and emails from the Opioid Abatement Council for updates on how to submit an application to be considered as a member of the Community Advocacy Panel.
The application process is not yet open.
The OAC Office will review and compile a slate of candidates to serve on the Community Advocacy Panel which represents all seven (7) regions. At the next called Opioid Abatement Council meeting, the OAC Program Director will present the slate to the Council for review, discussion, and approval.
After the Council votes to appoint or approve the fourteen (14) Panel regional members, Chair and Co-Chair, the OAC Program Director will send a letter to Panel members confirming their selection.
All Panel members will be required to sign the documents listed below and agree to the following:
• Must sign a Conflict-of-Interest Statement
• Must sign a Code of Ethics Statement
• Must attend at least three (3) virtual PANEL meetings annually to maintain appointment
When and where does the Panel meet?
The Community Advocacy Panel will meet at least once quarterly via a virtual format on the date and time decided by Panel members in conjunction with the OAC Program Director.
Although the Panel meetings will not be subject to the Open Meetings Act, for transparency purposes the meetings will be open to the public and meeting dates will be published in advance.
How can I apply to serve as a Panel member?
If you are interested in serving as a Panel member, please continue to watch for emails from the Opioid Abatement Council and this website for updates.
The application process is not yet open.
If you are not on the Council email list, please submit your request to the following:
https://www.tn.gov/oac/contact-us.html
The Council Office plans to post the Community Advocacy Panel member application to this website mid-February 2025.