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County staff backs joining CORE opioid‑response network; $700,000 available in first year
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Summary
Northwest Florida Health Network described the CORE coordinated opioid‑response network and told the commission Jefferson County could access up to $700,000 in the first year (part of $3.675 million total over 18 years); staff will return with an MOU and plan for spending the funds.
A regional public‑health representative told the Jefferson County Commission that joining CORE — a coordinated opioid response network — would enable the county to tap opioid‑settlement resources and provide a connected set of treatment and peer‑support services.
Charles McDonald of the Northwest Florida Health Network explained CORE’s goals: creating a no‑wrong‑door network for people seeking help, providing warm handoffs between first responders and treatment providers, funding peer recovery supports and strengthening outpatient and inpatient capacity. Under the program Jefferson County would be eligible for an allocation series totaling up to $3,675,000 over 18 years; the first fiscal‑year allocation available now is $700,000, staff said.
McDonald described the funding flow and program rules and said the county would submit a local plan describing how it would spend CORE funds; staff said an MOU would come back to the board for action. Commissioners expressed support for using the resources to bolster local capacity and noted that unspent funds can be carried forward if not spent in the fiscal year.
No final MOU was signed at the meeting; staff asked the board to approve moving forward with the program application and promised to return with a local plan and contract for formal approval.
