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Council approves Bear River Health Department three‑year substance use disorder treatment plan
Summary
The Cache County Council unanimously approved the Bear River Health Department’s three‑year substance use disorder treatment budget narrative, highlighting expanded evidence‑based treatments, naloxone distribution, residential provider contracts and a planned public outcomes dashboard.
The Cache County Council voted unanimously to approve the Bear River Health Department’s three‑year substance use disorder treatment budget narrative, a plan the department said had already been accepted by the state.
Jordan Mathis, director of the Bear River Health Department, introduced the presentation and said next year the department will present a combined mental-health and substance‑use plan once an interlocal contract with Bear River Mental Health is executed. He said the current submission focuses on treatment and that the department will present prevention work separately.
Nut Graf: The plan emphasizes evidence‑based treatment, expanded partnerships, naloxone distribution, residential treatment contracts and new data reporting intended to show client outcomes.
Jared (treatment lead) told the council the department had replaced older group curricula with evidence‑based modalities, trained staff in trauma‑focused therapies and expanded intensive outpatient offerings. He said the health department distributes naloxone widely — “Every single individual that comes to our program that goes through our intensive outpatient program, receives an introduction to and a Narcan kit” — and has reestablished residential contracts with Odyssey House and First Step House. The plan also includes a state grant used to subsidize safe and sober housing for clients.
Prevention lead Faron Wiese described a coalition‑based prevention approach focused on reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors across the three counties in the Bear River Health Department catchment.
Action: Council Member Nolan Gunnell moved to approve the Bear River Health Department substance use disorder treatment budget narrative three‑year plan; Keegan seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.
Ending: Department staff said they will return with a combined mental‑health/substance‑use plan once contracts are finalized and will present a public dashboard showing treatment outcomes and service metrics.
