Commissioners discuss using opioid-settlement funds for prevention, Chemical Health Coalition plans

Commissioners discussed using opioid-settlement funds to expand prevention programming through the Pine County Chemical Health Coalition and other youth services during the meeting.

Commissioners and coalition representatives described settlement proceeds arriving to local entities and a desire to direct much of the funding toward prevention rather than treatment. Commissioners referenced a preliminary budget discussion that considered increasing the coalition’s annual allocation from roughly $50,000 to about $80,000 for the coming year.

One commissioner said the county has received settlement payments and noted that many prevention efforts over the past six to eight years — including youth programs administered in partnership with county health and human services, courts and local nonprofits — have driven down placements and yielded “over half a million dollars” in placement savings compared with past years.

Michelle Nelson, speaking to the board, said the county is awaiting the outcome of a separate grant application for restorative practices and noted Terry Fawcett has a JDAI (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) grant of $100,000 that may be coordinated with any new restorative-practices funding. “I think if we get that grant, that's gonna be a game changer,” Nelson said.

Commissioners asked staff to continue evaluating how opioid-settlement funds can best support prevention and early-intervention programs, and to coordinate with existing grants and initiatives to avoid duplication and maximize impact.