The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 approved a new multiyear contract with the Community Foundation to administer a $900,000 grant round funded by county opioid-settlement payments.

Department staff said the county's opioid-settlement allocation totals roughly $26 million spread across many years; the $900,000 contract funds competitive grants to community nonprofits that provide substance-use prevention and intervention services. The item also authorized an internal county-department grant pool of $350,000 (one-time) for departmental proposals to improve services.

Board members asked for stronger reporting and measures of impact. Supervisor Koenig asked staff to return with a full report no later than the second board meeting in March 2026 detailing metrics the county will use to measure opioid-related harm, how departmental grants are deployed, and the Community Foundation's grant oversight and performance tracking. Supervisors also asked the sheriff/coroner to provide overdose and fatality data to help assess outcomes.

The board approved the contract and the request for reporting; staff and the Community Foundation will continue outreach with cities, providers and community members as part of a broader planning process for remaining settlement dollars.