Somerset County presents detailed plan for opioid settlement spending; funds navigation, harm reduction and recovery supports

On Jan. 28, 2025, at a Somerset County Board of County Commissioners work session, Lisa Federico, director of the Division of Operations and Planning for the Somerset County Department of Human Services, presented the county’s multi-year spending plan for opioid settlement funds received beginning July 2022.

Federico told commissioners the settlement funds are part of a statewide distribution expected to exceed $1 billion through at least 2038 and that the county created an Opiate Settlement Advisory Council in 2023 to guide use of the money. She said Somerset County has focused on harm reduction, navigation support, expanded access to medication-assisted treatment and recovery supports including housing and peer services.

The plan aims to address demonstrated local needs and community feedback. Federico said the county gathered public input through stakeholder meetings and an online survey that received more than 300 responses, and combined that feedback with existing data sources to set spending priorities.

County programs already operating on settlement funds include:

- A behavioral health system navigator position, held by Stephanie Billets, to provide warm handoffs and help residents find mental health and substance use care. Billets said, “Since 2022, I am proud to say that we've assisted over 350 residents so far, both for mental health and substance use treatment services.”

- The Somerset County HELPS mobile outreach initiative, which Federico said has reached and assisted more than 1,000 residents since its June 2023 launch and increased visibility at local events.

- Large naloxone distribution efforts: Billets noted the county’s participation in a “Save a Life Day” event in 2024 that distributed over 620 naloxone (Narcan) kits in a single day. Community in Crisis pop-up events engaged residents across vulnerable communities; Federico said those efforts had reached hundreds through monthly outreach and collaborative events.

- Support for a county-recognized harm reduction center housed at the Richard Hertzfeldt Hall Community Health and Wellness Center, which Federico said will provide mobile and co-located services, peer recovery specialists and wound and Naloxone kits. She said all 21 New Jersey counties now have a state-certified harm reduction center.

- Funding awarded by competitive request-for-proposal processes to local nonprofits to expand access to low-threshold Suboxone (buprenorphine) and trauma-informed medication-assisted treatment; Somerset Treatment Services received county funding to expand such services.

Federico described other activities funded or in development: clinician training in 2024 for treatment workforce capacity, peer recovery pop-up events providing hygiene items and immediate supports, and a posted RFP for “recovery-friendly workplaces.” She emphasized the county’s interest in developing recovery housing, noting a local shortage: “We currently have… virtually 0 recovery housing for the substance use population in this county while our neighboring county like Middlesex has over a 100,” Federico said, describing housing as a critical gap the settlement funds could help address.

Commissioners praised the presentation and the county’s approach. Commissioner Drake thanked staff for their work and described the programs as restoring hope for residents and families.

Federico emphasized stewardship and transparency in spending: the county uses a memorandum of agreement with the state that limits allowable uses to abatement and treatment-related activities and reports through the county advisory council. She closed by reiterating that the funds must be used for treatment, recovery, harm reduction, prevention and related services to reduce loss and support long-term recovery.

The plan includes ongoing actions and next steps such as continuing public engagement, completing competitive RFPs for recovery services and housing, and sustaining mobile harm-reduction and navigation services. Several commissioners asked to continue conversations about embedding recovery housing in municipal affordable-housing planning and fair-share housing discussions.