Madison County discusses expanding 24-hour mental-health response and planning for opioid settlement dollars

Madison County commissioners on March 31 heard updates on behavioral-health staffing and preliminary planning for incoming opioid settlement payments.

A board member reported the county has established a second 24-hour mental-health response capacity available to deputies and residents. Commissioners discussed that referrals typically flow through Madison County Mental Health and that the county contract supports assessments and treatment recommendations; inpatient referrals require placement at appropriate facilities beyond the county’s in‑house options.

Members noted that current opioid‑settlement dollars have funded prevention activities such as DARE, probation vehicle purchases and drug‑testing expenses. County staff said additional settlement distributions are expected and that the payments will soon be large enough to require an intentional spending plan; commissioners agreed to circulate the Attorney General’s list of approved expenditures and to reconvene judges, probation, the sheriff and other stakeholders to identify evidence‑based programs and potential subgranting to townships or municipalities.

The board also discussed the county’s contract records for mental‑health support in the courts and identified Brandy Miller as the head of probation who would be a point of contact for referrals and program coordination. Commissioners emphasized that some jail‑based programs may not meet the allowable criteria for opioid settlement money and that replacement costs (for example, vehicles used by probation) have previously been charged to recovery accounts when allowable.

Next steps: staff will re‑circulate the AG’s approved‑expenditures list, attempt additional outreach to Madison County Mental Health and probation leadership, and convene a follow‑up meeting to propose prioritized uses of the settlement money.