County health department outlines $1.38 million opioid settlement spending plan; board approves resolution

The Johnson County Health Department presented a proposed spending plan July 21 for $1,382,528 in opioid settlement funds and the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution adopting the plan.

Health staff said the county’s approach mirrors ongoing local work and the allocation will fund six strategies including: administrative coordination and strategic planning (to be managed by a full‑time and a part‑time coordinator based in public health); medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) through the department’s behavioral health clinic (about $139,004); recovery support services and peer support specialists (about $92,811); naloxone training and distribution (training $3,000; naloxone purchases $133,000); early intervention grants (the department issued an RFP and awarded $100,000 to Johnston County Schools for a school‑based intervention coordinator and $200,000 to the POPE Center for countywide education); and continuation of a post‑overdose response team that uses community paramedics to follow up and link overdose survivors to treatment and recovery services.

Health staff said the county’s local task force of more than 100 stakeholders will continue quarterly meetings to coordinate efforts, and noted the county’s approach differs from other jurisdictions that delegated coordination outside public health. Commissioners asked about sustainability; the health director said the county’s settlement share should support the plan for many years and staff will return with updates if strategies change. The board voted to approve the resolution as presented.