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Cabarrus County board to allocate $303,783.57 in opioid settlement funds for planning and paramedic training
Summary
County staff asked commissioners to authorize $303,783.57 in opioid settlement funds: $300,000 for a refreshed collaborative strategic planning process and $3,783.57 for training community paramedics, citing fentanyl as the dominant driver of local opioid deaths.
Cabarrus County staff asked the Board of Commissioners on July 6 to authorize $303,783.57 in opioid settlement funds to support a refreshed strategic plan and enhanced training for community paramedics.
Elise Pugh, presenting the request, said the allocation includes $300,000 for a collaborative strategic planning process to be procured through a competitive RFP and $3,783.57 in interest funds to expand training for the county's community paramedicine program. "Fentanyl, as reported by our sheriff's department, remains the dominant driver of opioid deaths in our community," Pugh told commissioners, and staff recommended an updated planning effort to assess progress, identify gaps and set priorities for the next phase of investments.
Pugh described the 2023 planning process that engaged elected officials, county and municipal management, people with lived experience, health care providers, the faith community and schools, and said the county is seeking a qualified facilitator to run a refreshed process. On the paramedicine training funds, Pugh said the money would be used to "provide additional training to our community paramedics who are delivering our community paramedicine program," with expected benefits including stronger clinical skills and improved linkage to treatment and recovery services.
Commissioner Ian Patrick asked about the RFP process and whether commissioners would see selection materials. Pugh said an internal committee had used standardized rating forms previously and offered to provide the rating sheets and application summaries to the board once the selection is made. "If you would like the process to change, please let us know," she said.
The board placed the item on the consent agenda. Pugh said staff will return with RFP outcomes and recommended priorities after the competitive process is complete.
Authorities and legal context: the funding is part of the state-level opioid settlement memorandum of agreement; staff characterized the funds as settlement proceeds from manufacturers and distributors, not general public revenues.
Next steps: staff will issue an RFP for a facilitator, assemble results for the board, and implement training for community paramedics using the interest allocation.
