County staff to seek state opioid funding and legislative support for forensic social work pilot; hope to free county opioid dollars for RISE re‑start

Weber County staff and program leaders on Oct. 20 discussed pursuing state opioid-settlement grant funding (created under SB 155) and a legislative appropriation to sustain a regional forensic social work pilot and to help bridge funding gaps for the county’s RISE reentry program.

Stephanie Russell and program staff reported the legislature established a grant portal and an opioid settlement advisory committee (referred to in the presentation as the “opioid settlement advisement committee”) after SB 155 (2023). The committee evaluates applications that prioritize evidence-based life‑saving strategies and equity. Staff recommended pursuing both the committee’s grant process and a legislative appropriation because the committee makes recommendations that feed into the legislative appropriation process.

County staff said success on the forensic social work application could free up existing county opioid dollars so the county could redirect them to restart or sustain RISE, a jail-based reentry program that lost federal RISE grant funding on Sept. 30 and then missed a proposed ARPA bridge. Program staff said the RISE cohort was graduating, recidivism among participants had improved (staff cited a 45% reduction in returns among a cohort of about 500), and the program paused when federal and ARPA bridge funds were not renewed.

Commissioners encouraged an aggressive approach: apply for opioid-settlement grants for the forensic social work pilot, keep a legislative-appropriation option open, coordinate a meeting with Representative Ray Ward (committee chair referenced in discussion), and consider leveraging county seed funds to secure matching state dollars. Staff said they would prepare grant materials and pursue meetings with state staff and the opioid advisory committee.