Commissioners hear opioid-settlement updates; approve jail liaison position to support treatment continuity

The Ashe County Board of Commissioners on Monday received updates from the health department and nonprofit partners on use of the county's opioid-settlement funds and approved creation of a detention-center liaison position to help connect people in jail to treatment and follow-up services.

Lindsay (App Health Care), speaking for the public-health partners, told commissioners that North Carolina's national opioid settlements will deliver funds to local governments over 18 years and that Ash County's allocation is roughly $2.1 million. App Health Care and county partners used part of that money to fund a mobile treatment unit that will rotate between Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties, and to underwrite local programs that include mentorship and street outreach.

Jennifer Warren, executive director of Western Youth Network, and Julia (Ash County mentoring coordinator) described a mentoring program that recruits volunteers and pairs them with youth referred by Department of Social Services, schools and mental-health providers. Warren said the program has made three matches so far and is expanding outreach and volunteer recruitment. Sean Morris of Hospitality House reported street outreach and short-term financial assistance to help rehouse people experiencing homelessness; he said the program is working with Northwestern Regional Housing Authority to place clients and noted regional differences in HUD fair-market rental rates.

During discussion the sheriff sought county approval to establish a jail-based liaison position funded from the opioid-settlement allocation. Commissioners were told the position will be based inside the detention facility, will work with inmates to educate them about medication-assisted treatment (including Vivitrol), coordinate with IMS Healthcare and the health department, and act as a Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) coordinator. The position will also attempt to maintain contact for about six months after release to improve continuity of care.

County staff said the proposed salary figure on the posted sheet is about $900 lower than an earlier estimate and that the benefits calculation is $3,978.62 higher than originally shown. Commissioners approved the position as presented and directed staff to use opioid-settlement funds to cover the difference; county officials said the settlement funding should cover the position for several years but that the county will amend the grant contract as needed going forward. The board did not provide a roll-call vote tally in the public record.

Speakers emphasized implementation details and limits of local authority. County staff said the liaison is not a detention officer and will be an eight-hour-per-day position that spends time inside housing pods; correctional staff and volunteers (including chaplains) will continue to provide security and medical staff will handle medication administration. The sheriff and partners said roughly 90 people were in the jail at the time of discussion and that program participation will begin with education and one-on-one outreach.

App Health Care staff recommended that, before approving new grant rounds, the county assess progress on current projects and consider no-cost extensions or targeted supplemental awards for projects delayed by Hurricane Helene. The county finance and health partners told commissioners that, after accounting for prior commitments and coordination costs, roughly $400,000 remained available for potential allocation but that counties are not required to spend the money immediately.

The board's action formalized a locally administered liaison role intended to increase uptake and continuity of medication-assisted treatment for people who come into contact with the detention facility. Partners said they expect to monitor outcomes for several years to evaluate recidivism and treatment retention.