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Winneshiek County approves $19,000 to sustain Decorah opioid treatment site
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $19,000 in opioid-settlement funds to UCS Healthcare to help sustain its opioid treatment program in Decorah, with reporting conditions and outreach funding included.
Winneshiek County supervisors voted to approve a $19,000 allocation from opioid-settlement funds to UCS Healthcare to help sustain the clinic it operates in Decorah.
The county’s opioid task force recommended the award after surveying residents; John Botts, co-chair of the Winneshiek County Opioid Task Force, presented the recommendation at the meeting and said the group sought proposals that matched community preferences. Detective Chris Webber of the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office described the UCS program as “something that really helps local law enforcement to be able to have an actual resource to go, that we know works.”
Jen Pearson, representing UCS Healthcare, told the board UCS is a “specially licensed opioid treatment program” that provides FDA-approved medications to reduce withdrawal and cravings. She said the Decorah site has served about 40 patients over five years and that sustaining the local clinic avoids hours-long travel for residents who might otherwise need daily medication doses. Pearson asked the board to consider a one-time allocation to cover operating shortfalls and outreach that the task force had recommended.
The task force proposed stipulations with the award: part of the $19,000 is to cover operating costs including staff salaries and part—about $4,000—is earmarked for outreach to increase local patient volume. The task force also asked UCS to provide quarterly reports on client counts and program metrics. The board approved the request by voice vote; the motion passed and was recorded as carrying unanimously.
Board members and presenters emphasized that the award is a one-time request for now, that the task force will evaluate sustainability over time, and that quarterly reporting will allow the board to track whether outreach improves enrollment and financial stability.
The board’s action makes state-settlement dollars available to maintain a local opioid treatment option in Decorah while the task force monitors outcomes and sustainability.
