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Parish to use opioid-settlement funds to fund mentor position for Denham Springs city marshal program
Summary
The Livingston Parish Council authorized a corporate-endeavor agreement to use state/local opioid-settlement funds to support the Denham Springs city marshal’s office hiring one full-time mentor to work with juveniles in court as part of a mentorship and services program; council approved the agreement unanimously.
The Livingston Parish Council on Oct. 9 adopted a resolution authorizing the parish president to execute a corporate-endeavor agreement with the Denham Springs city marshal to use opioid-settlement funds for a full-time mentorship position.
Finance Director Mickey McMorris explained that when opioid settlement funds were received, parish leadership asked him to work with the courts to identify prevention, treatment and education opportunities tied to court services. The Denham Springs marshal proposed a mentorship program for juveniles appearing in court; the marshal’s office will mentor young people, work with their parents and refer them to counseling or inpatient services when appropriate, and monitor participants at monthly court appearances.
The parish said the requested amount was modest (about $41,000 mentioned in the discussion) and that the marshal’s office would partner with local providers such as Florida Parishes behavioral-health and state-operated detention resources where inpatient care is needed. Council members voted unanimously to authorize the agreement and fund the position using opioid-settlement proceeds.
Council recorded the motion and said they would take a commemorative photo after the vote. Parish staff will execute the corporate-endeavor agreement and the marshal’s office said it will implement the mentorship program at court intake and follow juvenile cases through monthly review.
