Details of how funding will be spent presented
By Becky Long
Publisher
An advisory team and a detailed strategy has been put in place to make recommendations to Clay County Commissioners regarding the use of opioid settlement funds.
The total dollar amount of Opioid Settlement Funds appropriated for the action plan is $187,383.00.
The county will receive the money as part of a national settlement agreement in 2020 against companies engaged in manufacturing, distributing and dispensing opiods.
In March 2023, County Manager Debbie Mauney reported Clay County will use the money to address problems drug misuse has caused many families, including children, in the county.
Mauney noted that from the settlement, Clay County should receive about $60,000 annually for the next 18 years. At that time, she said she is working on a plan to address drug problems that would involve several agencies including law enforcement, health department and Social Services, among others.
“The fund is very restrictive, we’re being careful how we use the money,” Mauney said. “We want to make sure it’s not wasted here in the county.”
Funding must be used from July 1, 2023 -June 30, 2025.
The resolution approved by commissioners in their March 6 meeting provides details of funding and cost of service provided.
Highlights of the resolution include:
• $5,000: For evidence based recovery support services.
• $50,000: For Post-Overdose Response Team. Support post-overdose response teams would connect people who have experienced non-fatal overdoses to addiction treatment and recovery support.
• $10,000: To treat opioid disorder. Support direct patient care, instructors for fellowships for addiction medicine specialists.
• $30,000: To support people in treatment and recovery. Engage non-profits, faith-based communities to support people in treatment and recovery and to support family members in their efforts to support the person with opiod use disorder in the family. Provide or support transportation to treatment or recovery programs or services for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MA conditions.
• $20,000: Addresses needs of pregnant or parenting women and their families. Provide enhanced support for children and family members suffering from trauma as a result of addiction in the family and offer trauma-informed behavioral health treatment for adverse childhood events.
• $50,000: Support for children’s services. Fund additional services, including supportive housing and other residential services, related to children being removed from the home and/or placed in foster care due to custodial opioid use.
• $12,383: Leadership, planning and coordination. Provide funding for staff training or networking programs and services to improve the capability of government, community and not for profit entities to abate the opioid crisis. Provide resources to staff government oversight and financial management of opioid abatement programs.
• $10,000: Provide funding for staff training or networking programs and services to improve the capability of government, community and not for profit entities to abate the opioid crisis. Provide resources to staff government oversight and financial management of opioid abatement programs.