Fulton County approves $160,000 opioid settlement plan to add recovery specialist

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 approved a plan to spend $160,000 in opioid settlement funds to expand Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) services.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to approve the proposal submitted by Executive Development Director Julie Dovey to add another CRS to the Fulton County Family Partnership Team; the motion was approved with the board voting "All in favor." The plan was presented during the board’s regular meeting and carried without recorded opposition.

The board did not detail hiring timelines or recurring staffing costs in the meeting minutes. The funds were identified by the board as Opioid Settlement Funds and will be used specifically for expanding CRS services; no further breakdown of how the $160,000 will be allocated (salary, benefits, training, or administrative costs) was provided in the meeting record.

Julie Dovey presented the plan to the commissioners; the minutes state only that the request was to "Expand Certified Recovery Specialist Services by adding another CRS to Fulton County Family Partnership Team." The motion did not include an explicit effective date for hiring and did not specify whether additional county or grant funding will be sought to sustain the position beyond the settlement funds.

The board moved on to other agenda items and adjourned at 11:45 a.m.