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Riley County approves promotion to opioid education and prevention specialist
Summary
Riley County commissioners approved the internal promotion of Ginny Ebert to a reworked opioid education and prevention specialist position at the Riley County Health Department, expanding hours and continuing work funded through opioid settlement funds and existing grant lines.
Riley County commissioners voted Dec. 23 to promote Ginny Ebert into an expanded opioid education and prevention specialist role at the Riley County Health Department.
Shanika Rose, a health department staffer who presented the request, said the county has supported opioid prevention work since 2018 and that the position was recast this year to focus specifically on opioid education and prevention. "What you have before you is a request to fill internally, our opioid education and prevention specialist," Rose said during the meeting.
The health department told commissioners the post has been developed incrementally: it began as part‑time prevention work, was funded as a 20‑hour health educator position and was later renamed and adjusted to allow a larger workload. Officials said the position expansion was budgeted and that opioid settlement funds are part of the funding mix supporting the work.
Department staff highlighted Ebert's role in building partnerships and delivering prevention programming. Rose said Ebert has been involved since September 2023, has led the prevention subcommittee of the county's substance misuse task force, has more than 56 community partners, and has delivered dozens of opioid education presentations in the county.
Commissioners moved and seconded the promotion as presented; the motion carried on a voice vote with commissioners answering "Aye." The motion approved the promotion of Ginny Ebert into the expanded opioid education and prevention specialist role.
The health department described the expanded position as focused on community engagement, prevention training across the lifespan and coordination with partner counties where applicable. Officials said the work aligns with state opioid settlement funding streams and other grant resources previously discussed with the commission.
Commissioners recorded no further conditions at the time of approval. Staff said the position and its expected duties would continue to be reported through routine health department updates to the commission.
