Seaford to pursue opioid‑settlement funding for peer support and data evaluation; council approves acceptance upon award

The Seaford Police Department asked council Tuesday to accept opioid settlement distribution funds if the city’s competitive application is selected; council approved acceptance upon award.

Police Chief Pratt told the council the city applied for $557,700 in phase‑3 funds from the prescription opioid settlement distribution commission to support two peer‑support specialists, a supervisor and a University of Delaware evaluation and data partnership. “The amount of funding we submitted is $557,700 to support this collaboration,” Pratt said.

Why it matters: Chief Pratt said the funding would allow Seaford to re‑establish a peer support and diversion‑style program that previously ran under COSOP funding and give the city a partner for data collection and analysis through the University of Delaware’s REDCap system. Pratt described the program as two years in duration and said the grant is competitive; Seaford’s application relied on regional partnerships and on the city’s prior REDCap participation.

Council action and timing: The grant application closed the week prior to the meeting. Pratt said the distribution commission meets in late June and that the city should expect notification in August about full, partial or declined awards. Vice Mayor Dan Henderson moved the authorization to accept funds upon award; Councilman Orlando Holland seconded. The council approved the motion unanimously.

Funding and local match: Pratt said the application asks for the named amount and that there is no city match if the award is received. The program would begin in September if awarded and run for two years; staff said additional funding opportunities could be pursued after the initial grant period.

Discussion vs. decision: The council approved acceptance of award funds if awarded; the motion was contingent on the city actually receiving the award and did not obligate city funds absent award.