Avery County hears progress reports from six nonprofits funded by opioid-settlement and local grants

The Avery County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 1 heard detailed progress reports from six nonprofit partners that are using opioid-settlement and county funding to expand recovery, reentry and youth services across the county.

County staff opened the nonprofit segment and said each grantee receives 50% of their award up front and must submit financial progress reports before receiving the remaining funds. Presenters described operations, early client counts and next steps.

Brian Tower, president of Broken World Ministries, said the group received $25,000 across employment-related services and collaborative strategic planning and used the funding to purchase repair equipment, perform vehicle repairs (46 repairs reported in 2024), donate vehicles and move one employee to full time. "We've been able to hire 1 full-time employee and 4 part-time people this year," Tower said, describing partnerships with local recovery organizations.

Staff summarized Freedom Life's work on reentry and housing planning, reporting two funded action teams for advocacy and housing and early-stage engineering and multistage development plans for a housing project. County staff said Freedom Life is expanding a volunteer network across Avery's towns and supporting two funded staff positions.

Sarah Clark of High Country Community Health said the clinic has integrated medication‑assisted treatment into primary care and funded a behavioral‑health clinician through grant dollars. "Since July 1 our behavioral‑health clinician has seen 196 unique patients in the Avery office," Clark said, adding that the program has distributed 52 naloxone doses since April and plans to spend remaining grant funds on clinician salary/fringe and additional naloxone and medical supplies.

Dr. Cindy Austin, principal of Marjorie Williams Academy, described a K–5 intervention program for students with significant academic gaps and adverse childhood experiences linked to opioid impacts. The program uses DIBELS and NC Check‑In metrics, and Austin said recent cohorts show progress for several students and described clear exit criteria tied to benchmark performance.

Marissa Cornell, executive director of the Mediation & Restorative Justice Center, presented MRJC's Avery RV mobile outreach program (branded 'Wheels of Change'), which provides mobile peer support, naloxone distribution, post‑overdose response and criminal‑justice diversion services. Cornell said MRJC received $50,000 in settlement funding and leveraged outside DHHS and VIA funding to purchase and outfit a mobile unit.

Amber Dixon of Western Youth Network described mentoring, community health coordination and an "alternative‑to‑suspension" curriculum aimed at nicotine prevention. Dixon reported 17 unduplicated students served in early cohorts and distribution of quit‑kit resources, and outlined plans to hire local staff and expand prevention trainings.

County staff invited the public and commissioners to a drug‑crisis roundtable on Dec. 15 and public‑input meetings on Feb. 19, and reminded commissioners that grantees will return with full financial updates next fall. The board did not take formal action on program design during the presentations; staff said final grant payments will follow receipt and review of financial progress reports.