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Smart Initiative expands county technical assistance and monitoring; staff flag fiscal findings and recovery-mapping work
Summary
The council’s Smart Initiative staff reported expanded county-level technical assistance, delivery of recovery-ecosystem maps, fiscal monitoring findings and a plan to support county decision-making across 71 counties.
Smart Initiative staff updated the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council on Oct. 7 about ongoing county technical assistance, fiscal monitoring and a recovery-ecosystem mapping project designed to help counties prioritize spending.
Jennifer Torvill, executive director of the Smart Initiative, said the program has assigned regional consultants to 71 counties and hired new positions including a research-and-evaluation specialist and a replacement West Tennessee consultant. Staff have delivered presentations and training, conducted 29 fiscal monitoring reviews that produced recommendations, 13 discrepancies and 15 findings, and identified $97,251.60 in unallowable costs during reviews.
Smart Initiative staff described recovery-ecosystem maps developed for counties to show the distribution of prevention, treatment and recovery support services; staff said the maps help county commissions and grant reviewers identify service gaps and prioritize investments. Staff also reported workshops that reached county officials and provided guidance on settlement use and financial oversight.
Council members expressed support for the initiative’s technical assistance work and urged care in offering guidance so staff do not appear to ‘‘tip the scale’’ toward particular vendors or program models. Smart Initiative staff said they will continue to provide nonbinding guidance and training and to prioritize audits and fiscal monitoring where needed.
