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Nonprofits seek opioid-settlement support; county explores courthouse panic-button options
Summary
A local nonprofit asked commissioners for $9,000 from opioid-settlement funds to sustain 'bridge bags' for children in crisis; health and extension staff summarized grant-funded outreach. Separately, staff and commissioners discussed panic-button and phone-based alert options for courthouse security and asked IT and sheriff's staff to explore solutions.
A representative of Orange County Bridge of Hope asked the commissioners for $9,000 from the county's opioid-settlement funds to sustain a program providing "bridge bags" for children in crisis and to support a foster closet.
"We are requesting $9,000 to fund the bridge bags... We have the initial funding to launch it. We just are looking to fund that year's worth of sustainability for the program," Diana Reynolds told the board, describing items such as stuffed animals, blankets, coloring books, small toys and gift cards for emergency needs.
Commissioners said they would take the request under advisement and aim to decide at a following meeting to give them time to review the request and available fund balances.
Public-health staff (Tanya) and related partners reviewed how opioid-grant funds were used for school and community prevention activities, including a tobacco-education program, billboards and community events that reached dozens to hundreds of residents. The director reported a matured opioid-fund CD and an estimated reinvestment amount (staff to confirm exact figures at the next meeting).
Separately, county staff, the recorder and IT discussed courthouse security and panic-button options. Participants described a range of vendor solutions: physical panic buttons that alert dispatch, a "green-button" desktop notification system for office computers, and phone-based/geofenced platforms used by schools that would notify everyone on a platform automatically.
The board asked staff to explore options, including systems used by local schools and vendors who can create geofenced alerts by location, and to bring recommendations to the next meeting. Commissioners said a phone-based option may be preferable because staff typically carry mobile phones more often than they sit at a computer.
