Board approves Pathway contract to fill jail substance‑use treatment gap; opioid funds discussed for school program

Blackhawk County supervisors on Tuesday approved a contract with Pathway Behavioral Health Services Inc. to provide certified substance‑use disorder (SUD) counseling in the county jail for up to 12 hours per week at a cost not to exceed $20,000 for the period Oct. 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

The contract stemmed from what county officials described as a gap in services under an existing state opioid grant. Sheriff Nathan said the opioid grant still covers assessments but does not cover many of the subsequent individual or group treatment services when those services are for substances other than opioids. “What this contract will do is it's basically a second contract to provide the same service that we've been providing, up to $20,000 a year,” he said. “She doesn't know that it'll get that high.”

Nut graf: The supervisors approved the Pathway contract to allow counseling for detainees whose needs fall outside the state opioid grant’s scope, a county official said. The contract authorizes care for alcohol, methamphetamine and other substance‑use treatment needs that the opioid grant does not explicitly cover.

Sheriff Nathan and other officials said participation in treatment programs remains voluntary for people in custody and that services follow an on‑site assessment. “She's doing assessment. She's working with our medical staff. She's working with our social worker, and they go through and identify arrest people,” Nathan said, describing how Pathway staff coordinate with jail medical personnel. Officials said the county previously funded similar services under opioid grant money; the new contract is intended to sustain counseling while state processes for funding are clarified.

During the board’s reports, supervisors discussed a separate, related request: Pathway’s representative Vicki Miller has asked whether a county opioid‑fund allocation could help continue a school‑based program called Too Good for Drugs. A supervisor asked the county administration to invite Miller to next week’s meeting to present details about that program and any proposed budget or contract so the board could consider using opioid funds for schools.

Action: The board approved the Pathway contract by roll call; motions and second were made on the record. The record shows the resolution passed and the chair was directed to sign the contract.

Ending: County officials said they expect Pathway to continue coordinating with jail staff on assessments and that any broader state funding changes would be communicated back to the supervisors.