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County approves continuation of jail treatment contract; opioid-abatement funds to pay for programming and MAT support
Summary
Merrimack County approved continuing a contract with Alternative Solutions Associates (Kevin Warwick) to support in-jail substance use programming, peer review and clinician support. Staff said opioid-abatement reimbursements and Medicaid-assisted-treatment reimbursements will cover eligible costs; projected annual services equal roughly $27,000.
Merrimack County commissioners approved continuing work with Alternative Solutions Associates, represented by consultant Kevin Warwick, to provide program review, curriculum fidelity checks and clinician support for the county's jail treatment programs.
County staff described the contract as covering peer reviews, class observations, one-on-one follow-ups with incarcerated participants and ongoing curriculum suggestions. The presenter said the service typically represents roughly 26 to 27 on-site or remote days over the course of a year and estimated the projected annual cost at about $27,000.
"He's not providing supervision, you know, sit in on the curriculum, offer his suggestions on what he thinks needs to be improved," the county's programming staff member said of the consultant's role, adding that the work includes peer-review interviews with inmates after class sessions to assess fidelity and quality.
The board was told the contract will be funded from opioid-abatement funds the county holds, plus reimbursements the county has received tied to Medicaid assisted treatment (MAT). A county staff member said the county had pursued state reimbursement for MAT-related expenses — including staff time, prescriptions and provider work — and was granted reimbursement that can be used for substance-use programming.
Commissioners also heard program statistics and follow-up procedures. The presenter said about 90 percent of inmates enrolled in the county SOAR program are on Medicaid-assisted treatment, and roughly 60 percent of the facility's population receives MAT services. Staff described a transition plan to set up community appointments for people leaving custody so they can continue MAT or other clinical care after release.
The county's community corrections staff also reported plans to reintroduce the Hero Pups dog-training program at the county facility, saying the dogs and training staff will return and that the program will include inmate handlers who complete training and a graduation ceremony.
A motion to continue services with Alternative Solutions Associates was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; meeting minutes do not list individual roll-call tallies. The presenters said opioid-abatement funds will be the principal funding source for this contract and that the program aligns with the county's substance-use disorder services.
