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Harvey County commits opioid-settlement dollars to extend Waymaker Academy through December
Summary
The Harvey County Board of Commissioners approved funding to extend Waymaker Academy peer-mentor services at the county detention center from October through December using opioid-settlement and related grant funds; a peer mentor described participants’ recovery progress during the meeting.
Annette Reddington, director of the Harvey County Health Department, told the board Oct. 28 that existing grant and settlement dollars allowed the county to extend Waymaker Academy services at the Harvey County Detention Center through December and asked commissioners to authorize continued funding for peer-mentor and administrative time.
Reddington said the extension would cost $21,106 from October through December and would cover two Kansas-certified peer mentors and administrative support; she said staff would reevaluate the program’s funding status in January. “The program’s been going very well,” Reddington said, noting the county had served “over 125 individuals” through the pilot program that began in July 2024.
Peer mentor Gina Holguin described two participants’ outcomes, including one woman who completed programs while incarcerated, secured a $15-per-hour job after release and regained custody of her child, and another who completed treatment and enrolled in the county drug court program. “I got her into a sober living. She now has a job that’s $15 an hour, and she has her child back,” Holguin said.
Commissioner (speaker 5) moved to commit Harvey County opioid-settlement funds to finish the year for the Waymaker program; Commissioner (speaker 4) seconded the motion. The board voted by voice to approve the allocation. The motion as read in the meeting record included a higher dollar figure ($2,021,106) than Reddington’s presentation; county staff said the dollars are available in the opioid-settlement fund and that they would review the recorded motion language for the official minutes.
The board’s vote authorized the funding extension and directed staff to return in January to report on the program’s status and funding needs.
