The Adams County committee voted to send a resolution to the County Board that would use opioid settlement funds to pilot a countywide peer support program focused on people in recovery, including services inside the county jail and in the community.

Health and Human Services Director Kelly Olson told the committee the proposal would contract with 3 Bridges to provide peer recovery services; the pilot would cost about $107,500 per year for three years and include data collection and metrics to evaluate effectiveness. Sheriff York described peer support as a frequently requested service from stakeholders and inmates and said it could help reintegrate people into the community.

Olson said the pilot would fund two recovery support specialists to run two groups (a men’s group and a women’s group), each meeting twice weekly for about two hours, plus a community recovery support group and a minimum of 20 hours per week of one-on-one peer support. She said the county would be billed only for services actually provided and that the contract would include training and supervision for peer workers.

Committee members asked how the pilot would differ from treatment court services. Olson said treatment court already funds peer support for a limited set of participants under grant rules; this pilot is intended to reach people not eligible for treatment court and to provide peer support both during incarceration and after release. Sheriff York and Olson said 3 Bridges operates in several Wisconsin jails and has a supervision model for peer staff.

Supervisors asked about contract length, oversight and sustainability. Olson said the pilot is proposed for three years; the intent is to collect metrics on outreach, program retention, and access to formal treatment to decide whether to seek other funding or extend the program. County staff said they expect to contract annually with termination clauses for nonperformance and recommended annual reporting to committees. A committee member said opioid settlement payments to counties are scheduled and could help sustain successful programs.

Committee member Supervisor Fraser moved the resolution forward to the County Board; Supervisor Edwards seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote and the resolution will be considered by the full County Board.