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Commissioner Brown - DHHS - Community Support Services - To Appropriate and Approve a Resolution to Direct the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds for the Gaston County Partners for Positive Change Program to be Implemented by Olive Branch Ministries (Year 1: $78,257.68/Total Project: $234,773)
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STAFF CONTACT
Gregory Grier - Community Support Services - 704-862-6735
BUDGET IMPACT
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Increase revenue and expenses in the Opioid Settlement Fund. No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The State of NC joined in the national litigation against pharmaceutical supply chain participants who engaged in the manufacture, marketing, promotion, distribution, or dispensing of opioid medications that has harmed the public. On June 8, 2021 the Board of Commissioners approved the Memorandum of Agreement Between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the Settlement of Opioid Litigation (Res 2021-172) joining in the national litigation. Gaston County will receive a projected $43,000.000 in settlement funds to be received over a period of 18 years. To date, the County has received $ 4,250,134 in settlement funds. To date, $2,778,431 has been allocated by the Board of Commissioners.
A Request for Proposals for Recovery Support Services, specifically certified peer support specialists to partner with child welfare-involved families to help promote prevention of out of home placement as well as family reunification was issued and posted from September 19, 2023 until October 3, 2023. Two proposals were received. Each proposal was reviewed and scored by a subcommittee of the Gaston County Opioid Settlement Team. One of the two proposals were recommended for funding. The proposal submitted by Olive Branch Ministries is the one recommended proposal.
This Board Action, if approved, appropriates $234,773.00 in Opioid Settlement funds for the Gaston County Partners for Positive Change program to be implemented by Olive Branch Ministries. Using a harm reduction approach, peer support specialists will be embedded in Children & Family Services and will work with families who are involved with child protective services and permanency planning/ foster care due to a parent’s opioid use disorder. The peer support specialists will work with child welfare to address the needs of parents with opioid use disorder and will partner directly with parents to support their recovery. Expected outcomes are improved treatment completion and recovery rates for parents, decreased time in out of home placement for children, and increased reunification rates for children whose parents have an opioid use disorder.
Year 1 (January 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024): $78,257.68
Year 2 (July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025): $156,515.32
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Spending Authorization Resolution and Budget Change Request (BCR)