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DEFT Task Force presents recommended opioid-settlement awards totaling roughly $770,599 across existing, in‑house and new projects
Summary
The DEFT Task Force recommended continued and new opioid-settlement funding for local programs including peer counseling, recovery housing, Sandhills Best Care, Richmond Community College employment services, drug treatment court, jail programming, Narcan distribution, and two new community projects. Total identified in the packet: $770,599.02.
Theressa Smith, chair of the county’s DEFT Task Force and Social Services Director, presented recommended funding resolutions for Richmond County’s opioid-settlement allocations for FY 2026–27.
The packet breaks the recommendations into three groups. For currently funded external projects the packet lists: FirstHealth of the Carolinas (Peer Counseling Program) $53,793.02; Samaritan Colony Men’s Facility (Recovery Housing) $101,250.00; Samaritan Colony Women’s Facility (Recovery Housing) $75,000.00; Sandhills Best Care (Drug Treatment) $75,000.00; Richmond Community College (Employment) $75,000.00; and Drug Treatment Court (Amended) $142,500.00 — a total of $447,543.02.
For in-house projects the packet lists Strategic Planning/Administration $54,000.00; Narcan Distribution (amended) $35,000.00; Richmond County Jail $49,056.00; and a new DSS Child Advocacy Center request $75,000.00 — totaling $213,056.00.
Two additional new projects were recommended: Richmond County Rescue Mission ($75,000.00) for a program described in the packet as “From the Street to Your Feet,” and Richmond County Hospice ($35,000.00), totaling $110,000.00. The three groups combined equal $770,599.02 in recommended allocations in the materials provided to the board.
The packet describes these recommendations as coming from the DEFT Task Force and lists the resolutions by number (for example, Resolution 27-03, 27-05, etc.). The materials presented show the recommended amounts and the County Manager’s recommendation to approve; the excerpted transcript in the packet does not include a roll-call or recorded tally for these agenda items.
If the board approves the packet recommendations, the funds would continue support for treatment, recovery housing, Narcan distribution and local social services programming included in the DEFT Task Force plan.
