Commissioners allocate roughly $90,000 in opioid-settlement funds to three local recovery programs

Dubois County commissioners approved a set of grants on Feb. 2 drawn from the county’s opioid-settlement account to support local recovery services and coordination.

In a voice vote, the board allocated $52,000 to Operation Mind, Body and Soul, $20,000 to Community Solutions (to support Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council coordination) and $18,000 to Safe Haven Recovery Engagement Center. The motion was moved and seconded and carried without a roll-call tally.

Jennifer Lambert, the county’s chief commission officer, described Community Solutions as the county’s grant-coordination partner and asked for $30,000 to stabilize that contract; she said the firm has helped the county secure more than $1 million in outside grants in recent years. Commissioner discussion focused on budgeting priorities and the limited, ongoing annual flow of settlement money—Lambert noted the county will receive smaller yearly amounts going forward and needs to prioritize awards.

Safe Haven cofounder and grant manager Britney (as identified in the record) described her program’s transportation service for justice-involved residents, reporting 365 individuals served, 1,665 rides and 18,283 miles of local travel for Nov. 2024–Dec. 2025. She told commissioners the annual operating cost for the program is about $74,252 and identified insurance and salaries as the funding priorities for partial support.

Mr. Taylor, representing Operation Mind, Body and Soul, asked the board for roughly $60,000 to fully implement the first year of operations. Commissioners said partial funding would be an option, discussed covering the remainder through future budgets, and ultimately approved the split of funds that the chair proposed.

Lambert said staff will categorize awards, request formal appropriations from county council as needed and complete standard administrative steps such as obtaining W-9s from recipients.

The board’s decision follows presentations by the applicants and a JRAC briefing on allowable uses of opioid settlement funds, which are limited by statute to prevention, education, treatment and criminal-justice services. Commissioners and presenters emphasized that awards are intended to be used in-county and prioritized services for justice-involved residents.

What happens next: Staff will route the awards for council action and follow standard grant-administration procedures. Recipients may return to the board or council with requests for further funding in future budget cycles.