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Deschutes County authorizes application for $238,057.88 jail-based opioid‑use disorder medication grant
Summary
Sheriff’s office and partners will apply to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission for funding to support jail-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Commissioners approved the request after discussion of metrics and provider partnerships.
The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 1 authorized county staff to apply for an Oregon Criminal Justice Commission jail‑based medications for opioid use disorder grant in the amount of $238,057.88.
Captain Michael Schultz, jail commander for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, told the board the county has partnered with Ideal Option since a 2023 grant to provide medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) in the jail and that this grant would help cover rising medication and staffing costs. “This money is now out there, and...we're gonna be asking for it,” Schultz said.
Schultz and jail staff described the program’s purpose as reducing post‑release overdoses, stabilizing people during custody and reducing the jail “revolving door.” He said the jail’s operational bed capacity is 362 but that daily occupancy has been between roughly 200 and 250 beds. “Ninety percent of our population [is] drug addicted or mental health or both,” Schultz said, explaining the program’s target population.
Sheriff’s staff identified partners and providers including Ideal Option, BestCare, Mosaic and St. Charles Hospital. Jessica Vanderpool, who manages the jail’s financials, and Eden Aldridge, the jail’s medical director, attended and discussed program monitoring.
Commissioners asked about measures of effectiveness. County staff said Ideal Option provides monthly metrics including monthly inductions (patients started on MAT), follow‑up percentages for patients connected to community providers after release, and medication types used (oral buprenorphine/Suboxone, SUBLOCADE injectable buprenorphine and others). Staff said national research supports using these medications and that local reporting tracks monthly inductions, follow‑up rates and apparent barriers to continuity of care after release.
A commissioner noted that tracking long‑term outcomes is complex and costly; staff agreed and said they will seek simple, cost‑effective metrics and draw on national evidence when appropriate.
Captain Schultz said the state made approximately $10 million available statewide for jail MAT through a formula distribution; the county will apply for its share. The board voted to authorize the application; Commissioner Dyer and Commissioner Chang recorded “yes” votes and the chair also voted yes.
