Winnebago County review credits local programs as fatal overdoses fall 49% last year, but officials say work continues

Jennifer Skolaski, coordinator for the Winnebago County Overdose Fatality Review, told the City of Oshkosh Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee that the county recorded a 49% decrease in fatal overdoses last year but said the work to prevent deaths must continue.

Skolaski said the county recorded 24 fatal overdoses in the most recent year, and that figure still represents people “who are your neighbors, your family members, your friends.” She described the fatality review (OFR) as a confidential, multidisciplinary process that analyzes systemic and local touch points in overdose deaths to identify policies and interventions that could prevent future deaths.

The OFR, Skolaski said, began in April 2018 and now involves 49 partners representing 35 agencies across law enforcement, treatment and recovery, public health, health care, city and county services, education, faith communities and people with lived experience. “We are the leader, if not a leader, but I pretty much think the leader, of overdose fatality reviews around the nation,” she said.

Skolaski gave a statistical snapshot of recent overdose victims the OFR reviewed: 7 identified as female and 17 as male; 21 were identified as white and 3 as Black. Fentanyl remained the leading substance in toxicology reports with 11 detections; methamphetamine, cocaine and alcohol also appeared in cases. She said age demographics shifted from a primary range of 18–44 last year to 35–64 in the most recent review.

Beyond case reviews, Skolaski emphasized the OFR’s action orientation. She said the group has implemented more than 55 recommendations and runs or supports several programs linked to prevention and recovery. Among those she highlighted:

- Handle with Care: Launched in 2020 between the Oshkosh Police Department and Oshkosh School District, later expanded countywide, the program connects students who had law-enforcement contact to school supports. Skolaski said the county has recorded 2,113 referrals to care and support through the program.

- Solutions peer response team: Launched in 2022, the county-supported program deploys recovery coaches who operate 24/7 to connect people in crisis or their families with treatment and supports. Skolaski said the program works inside the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office to connect people detained there to services.

- We Heart You: A public-facing stigma-reduction and resource program that began as a card distributed by first responders and expanded into an app and biennial events. Skolaski said the We Heart You app provides resources across Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet counties and includes a prominent “talk to someone” button that offers call, text and chat options.

Skolaski said the OFR focuses on systems-level change and on reducing childhood trauma as a preventive measure, noting the group’s emphasis on meeting basic needs for elementary-age children to reduce risk factors. She also encouraged community members to share the app and consider volunteering or supporting local treatment and recovery organizations.

On Naloxone distribution, Skolaski pointed attendees to Winnebago County Public Health, which she said provides free Narcan at its office and through public-health vending machines.

Committee members asked about volunteer opportunities and local partnerships; Skolaski said the OFR and partner organizations regularly seek volunteers, planning-committee members for events and financial support for recovery organizations.

Skolaski closed by noting that continuing the OFR’s efforts depends in part on future funding: “We still have so many partners that are committed to this, and we hope that we can do this for another 7 to 10 years,” she said, adding the caveat that funding remains uncertain.