Sheriff: MAT grant award now available; county program serving dozens, capped at 50

Sheriff Clarence Birkhead told the Durham County Board of Commissioners that funds from a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) grant awarded in June/July 2023 had been unavailable to the sheriff's office until now, delaying planned expansion of services tied to the award.

"We just got access to the funds," Sheriff Birkhead said during the consent-agenda discussion. County staff explained that reconciliations and administrative steps sometimes cause designated grant dollars to reside temporarily in fund balance until appropriation; the board tonight approved the reconciliation item for the MAT funds.

Sheriff's office staff described the program's scope and constraints: the grant initially permitted Vivitrol use, but state rules later expanded allowable MAT medications; program planning had been held up while the county reviewed and sought to place a medical director role, which staff submitted in October 2023. The office reported there are currently 38 participants enrolled in the MAT program and that the program served 387 people in fiscal year 2024. Staff said the program is "capped at 50" under current operations, though it "could expand up to 100" with additional planning, staffing and careful coordination with public health and the medical director.

Commissioners asked for clarification on how grant flows and departmental drawdowns work; county finance staff explained that departments draw down grants administratively and that reconciliation procedures are reviewed during the county's single-audit preparations.

What happens next: With the board's appropriation of the reconciliation item, sheriff's staff indicated they will begin to spend the remaining grant dollars this fiscal year and continue planning with the medical director to expand services as appropriate.