About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Founded in 2018, in partnership with Florida Blue and funded by the Florida Blue Foundation, Project Opioid was created in response to the opioid overdose epidemic. Beginning in Central Florida, the initiative quickly expanded to five additional regions across the state, including Miami, Tampa Bay, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Jacksonville. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health struggles combined with substance misuse have caused overdose deaths to soar to unprecedented heights, calling for urgent and strategic solutions. Project Opioid JAX, an initiative of JAX Chamber, collaborates with the top leaders in our community to confront the overdose crisis through education and awareness, data analysis, high-impact strategies, outreach and engagement to vulnerable communities, and cutting-edge advocacy. We utilize our network of leaders across all sectors, along with service providers, and information specialists to facilitate evidence-based collaborations that force multiply efforts and help reduce overdose deaths.
Florida Sectors
Highlights
Meet the Team
Leaders working together to transform communities and save lives.
North Florida Director
of Advocacy
TJ Ward
TJ Ward is the North Florida Director of Advocacy for Project Opioid, a collaborative focused on convening key leaders across the region to confront the overdose crisis. He has spent over 25 years of his professional life in the nonprofit sector, where he helped start and successfully grow two large organizations from the ground up. TJ holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts from Maranatha Baptist University and a Master of Science degree in Management and Administration from Nova Southeastern University. TJ serves on the Health and Well-Being Development Council for Baptist Health and is on the Board of Directors for Inspire to Rise. As a part of the River Region Human Services 50th year celebration, TJ was honored with a Legacy Award for his role as a Community Builder.
Program
Manager
Abigale Bell
Abigale is the Program Manager for the North Florida branch of Project Opioid. She is honored to serve the North Florida community and advocate for those struggling with Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health issues.
Abigale is a Jacksonville native and attended the University of North Florida where she studied English and Communications. She knew from a young age that she wanted to utilize her skills to better the lives of others and is privileged to do so as a part of the Project Opioid family.
How we make a Difference
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Align Cross-Sector Leaders
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Education and Awareness
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Create and Share Data
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Formulate High-Impact Strategies
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Advocate and Coordinate