Walworth County Health and Human Services voted on May 21 to approve a request to use opioid settlement funds — up to $166,000 — to cover residential treatment costs for a child whose adoptive placement did not proceed, county staff said.

A staff presenter told the board the case began with the child's removal for parental opioid use and subsequent termination of parental rights. The state Department of Children and Families initially identified an adoptive resource, but that family later withdrew, and the child was placed in an out‑of‑county residential treatment center. "This is a young child, who the state then facilitated a placement into a residential treatment center," the presenter said.

Staff recommended using opioid settlement funds for this single case and noted the county's settlement fund balance remains adequate. "I think our settlement fund is still in good shape," the presenter said, adding the county expects about $1,600,000 to remain at year end and has received notice of an additional approximately $2,000,000 from further pharmacy settlements.

Board members asked whether the approval would set a precedent allowing future residential placements to be paid from the settlement fund. The staff presenter said the approval was for this specific case only and that any broader policy change would be addressed in the 2026 budget.

A board member moved to approve the request; Supervisor Joseph Schaeffer seconded. The board voted "Aye" and the motion carried.

Ending: The board approved the one‑time expenditure for this case; staff said future similar requests would return to the committee or be considered in the 2026 budget.