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Salish Behavioral Health outlines opioid-abatement role, requests council approval to add settlements to interlocal agreement
Summary
Salish Behavioral Health presented to the Port Orchard City Council on April 22 as the region’s designated administrative organization for opioid-abatement settlements and requested the city consider amending its interlocal agreement to include additional settlement distributions.
Jolene Crone, executive director of Salish Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization, briefed the Port Orchard City Council on the organization's role as the regional Opioid Abatement Council and asked the council to consider amending the city’s interlocal agreement to add manufacturer and pharmacy settlement funds to the existing distributor-settlement arrangement.
Crone said Salish Behavioral Health operates under an interlocal agreement covering Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam counties and includes participation by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on its board. The organization contracts with a network of providers and is designated regionally by the state to deliver behavioral-health crisis services, mobile crisis outreach, involuntary-treatment services and a 24/7 crisis hotline, and to administer non-Medicaid behavioral-health programs.
She summarized how opioid-settlement distributions from distributor, manufacturer and pharmacy settlements are being allocated under the state MOU and said local jurisdictions receive a share of those funds. Crone reported that Port Orchard’s portion of distributor-settlement funding over the most recent period totaled $43,351 (for the period described) and that combined Port Orchard funding across the last four years from settlement sources has been about $150,000. She said further funds are expected as additional settlements, including Purdue’s, are distributed over multiple years.
Crone told council that the Opioid Abatement Council must follow the One Washington MOU priorities, use funds for permitted abatement strategies (the council will receive an 11-page summary), provide community engagement and report to the state. She described likely priority areas emerging from community surveys and meetings: expanding and speeding access to treatment, transportation to care, education for law enforcement and the broader public, naloxone access and strengthening cross-system collaboration.
Crone said Salish Behavioral Health plans three community meetings in May (one targeted for South Kitsap, tentatively May 29) to gather local input and will prepare a plan for council consideration in June. Councilmembers asked for reporting that shows total funds received and how dollars are allocated across North, Central and South county so each community can see what portion benefits local residents. Crone said staff intend to provide that level of detail when the plan is presented.
Council indicated they expect to see an amendment to the city’s interlocal agreement and related contract language come back for formal council consideration once legal review is complete.
