Homewood committee hears plan to use opioid settlement funds for assessments, training and jail prerelease support

Homewood 'Committee members heard a presentation Aug. 4 on potential uses of opioid settlement funds, including same-day assessments, peer-led referral and recovery-support services, and staff training, and referred the matter to the city's budget hearings for further work. John Bales, program director at the Recovery Resource Center, told the finance committee the city's settlement funds are subject to restrictions and state guidance and that local practice should align with Jefferson County Department of Health best practices.

The presentation outlined services the Recovery Resource Center provides and how settlement dollars could be used. "We offer the assessments no cost, walk in, same day, no appointment," Bales said, arguing that quicker access reduces overdose risk. He described the center's work as assessment, linkage to treatment and recovery supports, and noted the use of peer specialists: "Peers lead the way. . . . I'm a person in long term recovery," he said.

Committee members and presenters discussed options including a fee-for-service model for assessments, a contracted annual amount for training, and prerelease assessments for people in the city jail to reduce recidivism and connect them to services at release. Bales said the recommendations come from the governor's opioid and addiction council and local public-health partners, and that Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks and UAB clinicians helped draft a Jefferson County road map of suggested best practices.

The committee discussed operational details: Chief officers said some supplies (for example, naloxone) are currently supplied by Jefferson County Department of Health and state sources and might not need funding from settlement dollars; fire and police discussed whether overtime or contracts would be a more efficient way to pay for staff participation in trainings. Committee members asked Bales for a sample contract and budget for training for city staff; he said he would provide the UAB contract template his organization uses and an option for per-training pricing or an annual contract.

Action: the committee, without objection, referred agenda item 21-07-25 (opioid settlement funding discussion) for inclusion in the upcoming budget hearings so staff and partners can return with cost details and draft contract language. The referral is not a funding commitment; the committee and presenters said final allocations would be decided in budget hearings and must meet settlement restrictions and state guidance.

Why it matters: Opioid settlement funds are restricted and under increased public scrutiny. Committee members repeatedly emphasized tracking, data and reporting so the city can document outcomes and respond to questions about how funds were spent. Bales and county partners framed the proposal as prevention, access and continuity-of-care work that aims to reduce overdoses, suicides and recidivism.