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County staff seek $100,000 naloxone pilot from opioid settlement funds; larger wraparound round deferred to Systems of Care
Summary
Grants staff proposed a targeted naloxone distribution pilot using opioid settlement dollars and asked the board to refer a larger $1 million competitive round for wraparound services to the Systems of Care group for further development.
Johnson County grants and public‑health staff proposed a two‑stage approach Wednesday to spending opioid‑settlement dollars: a near‑term naloxone distribution pilot not to exceed $100,000 and a deferred, larger competitive round for wraparound services to be developed with community partners.
Allison Wells, the county grants manager, and Ryan Fosmer, grants specialist, described the proposal as building on a 2022 county MOU for opioid settlement funds and the county’s opioid community assessment. Wells said the county currently holds opioid settlement proceeds and interest and expects additional payments in mid‑2025.
For round one, staff proposed purchasing naloxone and distributing it via free public vending machines and inconspicuous lockboxes placed at vetted community locations, paired with consistent county branding and instructional materials. Staff said vending machines could include an instructional video; if not, the county would use opioid funds to procure naloxone for public distribution. Staff noted existing programs in Linn County and ambulance service collaboration for outreach and training.
Wells described the pilot as intended to get life‑saving naloxone into places where overdoses are most likely. Ryan Fosmer said staff have identified partnerships and potential locations and would ensure owner permission and basic maintenance plans. The not‑to‑exceed amount for the pilot was $100,000.
On a broader second stage, staff proposed a competitive funding round of up to $1 million to support wraparound services (housing, transportation, job training, childcare, peer recovery supports and case management). Staff recommended referring that larger round to Systems of Care — a long‑standing community group — for multi‑month development and stakeholder input before the county issues an RFP.
Supervisors generally expressed support for the pilot and for bringing Systems of Care into planning for the larger round. The board gave staff informal consensus to proceed with the naloxone pilot and directed staff to schedule briefings with Systems of Care and other community stakeholders before finalizing the larger grant structure. No formal appropriation was approved at the work session; staff will return with specific contracts or procurement requests for board action.
