Committee approves opioid-settlement match grant to hire recovery navigator for Kenosha County

Kenosha County Human Services Committee members voted to accept a match grant tied to opioid-settlement funds that would fund a navigator position to help people after overdoses and others with substance-use needs.

Rebecca introduced Carrie Foss, director of the county behavioral health center, who said the grant is a match program: "it was an opioid match grant, meaning that whatever dollars we were willing to match up to a $100,000, they would contribute that," Foss said. If the county accepts the grant, the plan is to hire a navigator to continue and expand outreach and follow-up activities currently supported by a SAMHSA grant that sunsets in September.

Foss said the navigator would work with clients and families affected by opioid overdoses and connect them to housing, benefits, behavioral-health services and community providers. She said the county expects to use opioid settlement funds as a match in the short term and hopes to build sustainable revenue through Medicaid billing for peer-support services and by seeking additional grants.

Supervisor Poole asked whether the position would be long-term if funded only by the grant; staff said the grant covers one year and the county plans to pursue a mix of opioid-settlement funds, other grants and potential Medicaid match reimbursement to sustain the role. Committee members were told the county expects to have multiple years of opioid settlement dollars available and that a public dashboard lists settlement receipts and expenditures.

Supervisor Brown moved the resolution; Supervisor Kirby seconded. Committee members voted in favor and the chair said the motion carried.