The Linn County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 24 discussed a vacancy request to create a behavioral intervention specialist position in the sheriff’s office, funded for one year with opioid settlement dollars.

A sheriff’s office representative told the board the position follows a successful application to the county’s opioid settlement committee and is intended to identify people in the county jail who could be diverted to treatment and community resources. “We currently have about 22 of them that when I looked a couple weeks ago, that probably would meet the criteria for some type of diversion program,” the speaker said.

Supervisor comments praised the plan as a cost-saving diversion strategy and asked for public-facing implementation details. Assistant or supervising officials noted the East Central Region previously funded two jail-diversion positions until the state took over on July 1; county staff compiled a report showing 22 people identified for diversion after that funding lapse.

The board clarified the position is funded with opioid settlement dollars for one year and that no general fund money will be used at this time. The Chair said the item will be placed on Wednesday’s consent agenda for formal approval and HR will begin accepting applications if the vacancy is approved.

Anthony Arrington, a public commenter, had urged supervisors to make implementation details public and described diversion programs as reducing recidivism and racial and economic barriers. “This is a good thing,” Arrington said during public comment.