Marion County Sheriff's Office grant transfer approved to continue substance‑use treatment programming

The Marion County Community Corrections Advisory Board approved a request from the Marion County Sheriff's Office to reallocate Department of Corrections (DOC) grant funds to continue treatment services and add part‑time administrative support.

Emily Groff, identified in the meeting as grants coordinator for the Marion County Sheriff's Office, told the board the transfer would move funds from salaries and health‑insurance budget lines to continue contracting with Enriching Lives, a substance‑use treatment provider that has offered individual and group sessions at the Duval (work‑release) facility since 2016. Groff said the provider operated free in earlier years and the county began funding services about two years ago.

Groff said the Sheriff's Office also wants to use part of the transfer to hire a part‑time administrative assistant to support the programs unit with coordination, reporting and documentation of participant data. She said a second behavioral manager position is currently vacant and that, if state funding cuts occur, the agency would prioritize its two current behavioral managers, the coordinator role and continuing Enriching Lives services. "They fund these positions a 100%. DOC programming does or funding, sorry," Groff said when asked whether DOC funds fully support the positions.

Board members voted to approve the transfer by voice vote. During discussion, members asked about the program’s duration and the sustainability of the positions if the state Department of Corrections reduces funding; Groff said the program has operated since 2016 and the county has other funding sources it can pursue to advocate for continuation.

The motion carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.