Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Program Funding And Opioid Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JusticePoint and county health staff report program successes, funding losses and seek county support for reinstated grants
Summary
JusticePoint presented program updates including pretrial caseload figures, a newly launched Ojibwe language program and lost grant funding; Health and Human Services reported AmeriCorps funding cuts affecting peer recovery specialists and described potential opioid funding opportunities and local Narcan distribution results.
Becky Berry, a JusticePoint representative, told the Sawyer County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council on May 14 that her program is operating with staffing shortages and several active programs but that two potential funding streams were lost in late April.
Berry reported JusticePoint statistics: 113 people in pretrial services, five people on the program wait list (all incarcerated), 11 active diversion participants and 19 referrals pending, and eight active participants in recovery court. She said deflection work by navigators is “going very, very well” with community outreach, bridal alongs with law enforcement, overdose prevention and tabling.
Berry said JusticePoint had been competing for two funding streams described in the meeting as “Reaching” (transcribed as “Reaching bridal”) and “Building Bridges.” She said one funding source was lost April 22 and that the Building Bridges opportunity had been at funding levels up to $250,000; JusticePoint had been instated for $100,000 but had not yet hired staff when the award was lost. Berry asked council members to sign a letter in support of efforts to reinstate funding and requested that the county board present a resolution if the CJCC approved. A motion to recommend the county board present such a resolution was made, seconded and passed on a voice vote.
Berry also summarized program accomplishments: a new Ojibwe language and culture program started April 12; JusticePoint reported eight GED completions for the school year to date and announced the first in‑person graduations at UW–Eau Claire’s Barron County campus on May 16. JusticePoint also noted an open invitation to local staff for training sessions being offered by the organization.
Joyce, a Health and Human Services staff member, reported that national AmeriCorps funding for peer recovery specialists had been cut and the county is working to retain one peer specialist on a part‑time, locally funded basis. Joyce said the county had already allocated $16,000 from opioid settlement funds for peer recovery coaches and is exploring other funding and grant opportunities.
County staff said a private entity identified in the meeting as “Bridal Strategies” indicated willingness to commit $100,000 toward opioid spending that aligns with harm‑reduction work, including medication‑assisted treatment efforts in the jail. Staff said another competitive opioid grant may also be pursued; county commitment letters are expected to be required for grants that must obligate funds by September 2026.
Health and Human Services reported results from a recent drug take‑back day: the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office collected 35 pounds of medications and Hayward Police Department collected 76.74 pounds; LCO was unable to submit take‑back data. Joyce also said Narcan distribution at the food shelf led to at least one documented overdose reversal, and staff praised local partners — including Meals on Wheels — for collecting medications from homebound residents during the take‑back event.
The council approved JusticePoint’s request to ask the county board to consider a resolution supporting reinstatement of the lost funding and asked staff to follow up on grant opportunities and funding commitments at future meetings.
