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Commission endorses opioid‑abatement funding proposal to City Council for Narcan vending, youth counseling and mental‑health resiliency programs
Summary
Commissioners agreed to forward recommended allocations of California opioid‑abatement settlement funds to City Council: Providence Mission Hospital (BEAM) for two naloxone vending machines and outreach ($26,000); California Youth Services (JADE) for 50 students ($35,700); and Tilly's Life Center (TLC program) pending state approval ($15,000). One commissioner recused from the item due to a family employment connection.
Leslie McDonald presented staff recommendations to allocate Mission Viejo’s share of California opioid‑abatement settlement funds to three providers and asked the commission to endorse forwarding those allocations to City Council.
McDonald said the three recommended recipients are: Providence Mission Hospital to support the BEAM (Behavioral Evaluation Addiction Management) program, requesting approximately $26,000 to purchase two harm‑reduction vending machines that would distribute naloxone (Narcan) and to fund a BEAM outreach nurse; California Youth Services, requesting $35,700 to provide the JADE (juvenile alcohol and drug education) program for 50 students in Mission Viejo and partner cities; and Tilly’s Life Center, requesting $15,000 to deliver a TLC youth resiliency curriculum that promotes emotional regulation and coping skills pending state approval.
McDonald emphasized these allocations would come from opioid‑abatement settlement funds administered through the state (not city general‑fund dollars) and that some requests require state review before funds can be released.
Commissioners voiced strong support. Commissioner Saba Khan Wright noted the city’s earlier fentanyl‑prevention town halls and the countywide resolution encouraging coordination across cities; she said local distribution points for naloxone had been successfully expanded since 2022. Commissioner Begione confirmed the funds originated from California abatement funds tied to litigation against distributors and retailers. A commissioner recused from the discussion because a spouse works at Mission Hospital; the chair accepted the recusal before the item was considered.
A motion to forward the proposed allocations to City Council for approval was made, seconded and carried; the commission directed staff to place the recommendations on the Council agenda. The package totals approximately $63,397 and is intended to support local prevention, treatment and resiliency services.
