Sagadahoc commissioners back Board of Health plan to fund Community Navigator with opioid settlement money

Melissa Fochesato, chair of the Sagadahoc County Board of Health and director of community health at Mid Coast Hospital, urged the County on Jan. 14 to prioritize a Community Navigator and expanded naloxone access with opioid settlement dollars.

The Commissioners unanimously accepted the Board’s recommendations and asked Administrator Amber Jones to provide a spreadsheet at the February meeting showing anticipated settlement receipts over the next five years before any long‑term staffing commitments are made. "The Community Navigator is the number one priority," Fochesato said, outlining proposals that also included naloxone distribution and training, a liaison for first responders, and other prevention efforts.

Why it matters: Sagadahoc County already has received $275,000 in opioid settlement payments and expects roughly $101,000 in 2025, with multi‑year receipts currently estimated to average about $78,000 annually in the near term. Commissioners said sustainability concerns must be addressed before making a permanent hire.

Fochesato described three Board of Health recommendations: increase community access to naloxone with training and distribution; fund a Community Navigator to link residents and first responders to behavioral‑health, housing and financial supports; and increase public awareness of local resources. She said some supporting programs—such as naloxone procurement—have low recurring costs because supplies are sometimes provided at no cost by partners. "We still need funding for training and distribution," Fochesato said.

Administrator Amber Jones told the Board she would prepare a detailed spreadsheet of existing funds and anticipated future payments to show what could sustain ongoing positions. "We already have $275,000 in hand," Jones said, adding that timing and amounts vary because multiple pharmaceutical settlements pay out on different schedules.

Commissioner Charles Crosby and Commissioner Stephen August said they support the Community Navigator in principle but emphasized caution about long‑term obligations. Crosby suggested framing the role as initially grant‑funded and considering County budget support only after the position demonstrates value. August moved to accept the Board of Health recommendations; Commissioner Todd McPhee seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Other proposals presented to the County included supplementing law‑enforcement school programs, and funding an animal‑assisted crisis response canine to address secondary trauma among first responders. Fochesato and the Board indicated the Navigator was the only recommendation that would likely require ongoing funding.

What’s next: The Commissioners asked for a five‑year funds spreadsheet at their February meeting to evaluate sustainability before approving ongoing budget commitments. The motion to accept the Board of Health recommendations passed unanimously.