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Navajo County board approves funding for six opioid‑response projects
Summary
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors approved funding for six projects recommended by a steering committee to use opioid settlement funds on public‑health strategies, including peer reentry services, naloxone distribution and youth prevention programs.
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors on a voice vote approved funding six projects selected by an opioid settlement steering committee to address overdose prevention, treatment and recovery.
Public Health project lead Janelle told the board the committee vetted nine proposals and identified six that met the agreement’s public‑health criteria and evidence‑based standards. She said the county has received deposits (including fiscal‑year 2023 amounts) and that the funds and earned interest can be used to support local programs.
Among the projects approved were a sheriff’s office peer‑based reentry program that would use recovery peers inside custody to improve post‑release outcomes; Public Health’s naloxone distribution and real‑time data collection project; a $2,500 reimbursement for a county attorney town hall that gathered community input; a one‑time $50,000 contribution to Hushabye Nursery to expand a maternal‑infant inpatient wrap‑around program in northern Arizona; a $50,000 contribution to Nexus Drug Coalition to expand youth prevention curriculum; and a $23,550 request from Show Low Police Department for dispatcher training and targeted technology for overdose calls.
Janelle said the steering committee required projects to align with Johns Hopkins core strategy areas, demonstrate sustainability or leveraging of other funds and meet realistic timelines. She said the county will manage reporting for participating municipalities that elected to keep their small allocations with the county.
A supervisor thanked the committee and county attorney’s office for the vetting process. The board moved to approve the six eligible projects as presented; the Chair called the voice vote and said the ayes have it.
What happens next: staff will work with each recipient to finalize budgets and reporting requirements, and Public Health will manage distribution and oversight of the awarded funds.
Sources: Board presentation and public discussion (Janelle; Public Health; Sheriff’s office).
