Woodford County approves opioid‑abatement resource specialist paid from settlement funds
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Summary
The fiscal court approved creating a substance‑abuse community opioid abatement resource specialist (recommended salary $45,000–$55,000) to be housed at the Woodford County Health Department and funded from opioid settlement monies, contingent on Versailles City Council concurrence.
Woodford County Fiscal Court voted to create a substance‑abuse community opioid abatement resource specialist position funded from opioid litigation settlement monies and recommended by the county’s Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP).
The presiding judge said the position will provide case management and crisis intervention, connect people with treatment and recovery services, coordinate prevention and education efforts, and vet proposals for the use of opioid settlement funds. "The first of which...is the need to be a case management individual and family specialist to deal with people in crisis," the judge said, summarizing the proposed responsibilities.
The county attorney emphasized that opioid settlement funds are restricted to opioid abatement purposes and warned that improper use could jeopardize future funding. The judge and county attorney said the position would be employed by the Woodford County Health Department while the county and the City of Versailles would act as fund conduits; Midway was noted as not receiving settlement funds directly.
The court approved the position by motion and voice vote; the approval was contingent on the Versailles City Council agreeing to jointly fund half of the salary and benefits. The recommended salary range discussed for the role was $45,000 to $55,000 plus benefits.
