Ashland County staff say opioid-treatment jail grant ends March 31; leftover funds and separate recovery-housing grant discussed

Ashland County Human Services staff told the Health and Human Services Board that an opioid-treatment grant administered through the county Sheriff’s Department will end on March 31, 2025, and that significant unspent funds remain. Staff said there will likely be a gap between the grant end date and the state’s reallocation of any remaining funds, leaving no funding for services in the county for roughly three months unless the jail pursues a carryover or reapplication.

Board members were told the original grant — described in the meeting as roughly $228,000 in total — had lower-than-expected spending because some planned travel and related costs (for transporting people out of county for methadone or outpatient clinic care) did not happen. County staff said the jail estimated about $56,000 in costs to date but that figures were still changing as invoicing continued. Staff said they have requested a no-cost extension but warned that state accounting and reaward processes create an April 1–July 1 gap in funding unless the jail reapplies for leftover funds.

Why it matters: staff said the program supported in-jail group sessions, peer support services and warm handoffs to community treatment — services they described as valuable to incarcerated people preparing for reentry. The county’s peer support specialist was commended for connecting incarcerated people with resources and arranging referrals to the county’s Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program prior to release.

County staff also discussed a separate, unrelated “unmet needs” grant the department secured to support recovery housing. That grant is not tied to the jail and is intended to pay for recovery housing placements. Staff said an original plan to use an adult family-home model proved overly restrictive and deterred interested providers; the grant administrator confirmed county grantees may place people in recovery housing anywhere in Wisconsin. Staff said the department will continue to try to recruit local recovery housing but will also place people where they judge the setting best supports recovery, including out of area when appropriate.

Discussion and next steps: board members asked about the amount remaining in the jail grant and about the funding source. Staff confirmed the funds come from opioid-settlement funds administered by the state and said unspent amounts typically are reallocated by the state in future grant rounds rather than expiring. Staff said the jail will decide whether to pursue carryover or reapply for remaining funds; Human Services staff said they plan to continue outreach and coordination with the jail where possible even during an interim unfunded period, but that the jail may not participate during any funding gap.

No formal action was taken on the grants during the meeting; the board received the update and asked staff to continue coordination with jail partners.