Dickinson County commissioners hear progress report on recovery court graduates, discuss funding and alumni supports
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Summary
County officials heard a report on the All Rise recovery court program, which launched in 2022 and has 17 graduates; commissioners and staff discussed alumni supports, incentives and funding concerns as opioid- and recovery-related funds decline.
Speaker 5 reported on the local All Rise recovery court program and its participant supports, saying the program began in 2022 and has produced 17 graduates. "Of those 17 graduates, I don't have a program — there's a number coming," Speaker 5 said, describing incentives such as "agency bucks" redeemable at a program general store, monthly fishbowl drawings and holiday and winter gift packages intended to reinforce attendance and sobriety.
The presenter outlined plans to form an alumni group to provide peer support after participants reach later phases of the program. "To do an alumni group, you have to have somebody who's very strong in their recovery to be able to lead it," the speaker said, adding that phases 4 and 5 of the program are intended to reconnect participants with community supports, such as churches and other local organizations.
Commissioners asked about follow-up and supervision of graduates and whether monthly check-ins would be required. Speaker 4 asked, "Are they checking in monthly or anything?" The presenter said alumni contacts and volunteer peer leaders are being developed.
Officials also discussed program staffing and the risk that personnel shortages and overtime costs could constrain expanded services. Speaker 5 and other commissioners noted that local grant funding has helped but warned that opioid- and recovery-related funding streams have been spent down; one commissioner said opioid-related accounts and a separate recovery court fund have already been tapped for program support and may not be sustainable without additional grants or budget allocations.
The presenter and commissioners agreed to invite the core community group to make a budget presentation during the January budget cycle so the commission can evaluate any appropriation request alongside a proposed checklist of minimum information for such requests.
The commission did not take a formal vote on program funding at the meeting; staff were directed to coordinate a future presentation to provide more detailed budget numbers and a clearer request if appropriate.