Board of Health urges county to fund community navigator, naloxone distribution and school prevention with opioid settlement money

Sagadahoc County commissioners on Jan. 14 received recommendations from the county Board of Health to use opioid settlement funds for three priorities: expanded naloxone distribution and training, a county community navigator to help first responders and residents find services, and prevention programs in schools and with law enforcement.

"We are following the Maine attorney general recommendations, which are based on the federal recommendations," said Melissa, chair of the county Board of Health and director of community health, as she summarized the board’s needs assessment and proposals. She said the board gathered input from stakeholders across the county and reviewed allowable uses under the settlement guidance.

The nut graf: Commissioners signaled support for the three priorities but requested clearer budget projections across multiple settlement sources and years before authorizing ongoing hires. The board recommended using a portion of currently available settlement dollars to start time‑limited work this year and to design an annual review and request process.

Details: Melissa told commissioners that seven major settlements have contributed funds that will be distributed to counties in differing schedules through about 2038. She said the county has already received approximately $275,000 in prior distributions and that projected annual receipts vary year to year; commissioners asked staff to produce a spreadsheet that shows expected receipts and scenarios for the next five years. ‘‘To date we have roughly $275,000 in funds and distributions will continue in differing amounts through 2038,’’ Melissa said.

The Board of Health’s three implementation recommendations were: - Fund naloxone distribution and training (including community lock‑box access points and supply for local responders and partners). - Create and fund a county community navigator position to link people identified in crises (including clients of first responders and county staff) to treatment, recovery and social services; fund training for county staff in crisis intervention. - Support school‑based prevention and the local Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) program, and consider one‑time investments such as a crisis response canine for first‑responder wellness if local partners will sustain ongoing costs.

Joel, the county’s options/behavioral health liaison, and representatives from Boothbay and Midcoast provider groups described existing programs that could host or cooperate with a navigator. Melissa said an evaluation and guidance contract with the University of Southern Maine (USM) is available to help design requests for proposals and evaluate pilot programs.

Commissioners’ response: Several commissioners voiced support for the priorities, with concern about sustainability. One commissioner said a navigator ‘‘would be extremely useful’’ but wanted assurance the county could sustain the position beyond grant funds. Commissioners agreed to accept the Board of Health recommendations in principle and directed staff to return a funding spreadsheet and implementation plan for discussion at the February meetings before committing ongoing county dollars.

Ending: The board moved to ‘‘accept the Board of Health recommendations for a 2025 implementation plan’’ and to have staff provide cost and multi‑year revenue projections. The motion passed; commissioners asked that staff and the Board of Health return with a timeline and budget scenarios that show how a navigator or other recurring costs would be funded if settlement receipts decline in later years.