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Board approves $322,050 county support to extend Solutions Recovery peer response team for one year
Summary
Following public testimony and committee review, Winnebago County supervisors approved a $322,050 amendment to fund Solutions Recovery's peer response team for one additional year, with a clawback clause if other grant funding is received. Supporters cited program reach and life-saving transports; opponents raised long-term funding questions.
Megan Edwards, executive director of Solutions Recovery, told the board that the peer response team has become "one of the most effective and collaborative responses" to substance use and overdose in Winnebago County and urged adoption of an amendment to add $322,050 to the public-health budget to continue the team for another year.
Edwards said the team has reached more than 1,200 people through in-person contacts, handled about 11,000 hotline calls and supported more than 3,000 transports to treatment, housing and recovery supports. Supporters who had testified at prior meetings described personal experiences with the team and its role connecting people to services.
Supervisors debated the amendment's cost and long-term sustainability but proponents said ending the program abruptly would cause harm to people currently served. The amendment included a clawback provision: if Solutions Recovery obtains alternative grant funding (for example the COSF or other sources) during the funded year, unspent county funds would be returned to the county general fund.
The board approved the $322,050 amendment by a recorded vote (35-1). The vote followed committee consideration and public testimony in favor of continuing the program.
Implications: The county97funded extension will allow Solutions Recovery to continue peer response outreach and transports for an additional year while staff pursue other funding sources. County oversight and reporting provisions included in the amendment require Solutions Recovery to report on outcomes and to return unspent funds if replaced by grant support.
