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Council approves grant‑funded recovery care program with Catholic Human Services
Summary
The council approved a memorandum of understanding allowing Catholic Human Services to place recovery‑care specialists in the public safety building to assist on overdose and mental health calls; city staff said the program is fully grant‑funded and will cost the city no operational dollars.
The Alpena City Council on Feb. 3 approved a memorandum of understanding with Catholic Human Services to add recovery‑care specialists into emergency response for substance abuse and mental‑health incidents.
A presenter described the Integrated Recovery Care Services Program as a fully grant‑funded initiative that embeds recovery support staff with Alpena City Fire Department EMS, Alpena City Police and the Alpena County Sheriff’s Department to respond to alcohol, narcotics, opioid overdoses and mental‑health crises. The program will provide immediate on‑scene support and follow‑up case management, including hospital follow‑through and referrals.
The presenter said the city’s primary obligations are to provide workspace in the Public Safety Building and collaborative access to response and client information related to covered calls; program staff will follow HIPAA and other data‑security requirements when responding. The presenter identified Issa (Eisa) Maru as one of the recovery staff who would be assigned to local responses and said the program currently anticipates one full‑time and one part‑time recovery specialist, though staffing will be flexible to match demand.
Speakers at the meeting said the program is intended to reduce strain on emergency responders by providing long‑term referral and recovery support. The presenter said Catholic Human Services sought the grant and the initiative has no cost to the city; the organization will request workspace and coordinated access to response information.
Council moved to approve the agreement and authorized city public safety leaders to sign the memorandum of understanding and the business associate agreement; the motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Walczak and seconded by Council member Danny Mitchell. Roll call votes recorded “aye” from the council members present and the motion carried.
Council members asked how the program would operate in practice. A presenter said recovery specialists can ride along on applicable calls, follow patients to the hospital to ensure continuity of care, and use referral logs for cases when specialists are not immediately available.
The MOU does not commit city operating funds, according to presenters; staff emphasized the program is dependent on continued grant funding and that Catholic Human Services will manage staffing and program operations under the terms of the agreement.
