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Council approves opioid‑settlement grants and funds Newport‑Middletown Situation Table pilot for another year
Summary
The council approved a $40,000 special‑projects grant to the Newport Prevention Coalition and authorized a $200,000 municipal‑incentive grant application to sustain the Newport‑Middletown Situation Table, a weekly interagency effort to intervene with individuals at high risk; deputy chief and nonprofit leaders described casework and outreach coordination.
The council approved two grant actions using opioid‑settlement funds: a $40,000 special projects award to the Newport Prevention Coalition and authorization to apply for a $200,000 municipal incentive grant (application due Sept. 30) to support the Newport‑Middletown Situation Table, a joint response network that includes police, fire, hospitals, housing and behavioral health partners.
Deputy Chief Mike Ferrer, a Situation Table team lead, described the weekly meeting of roughly 20 representatives that coordinates outreach, builds multi‑agency response teams and tracks outcomes. "We meet weekly and include 20 representatives from child welfare, fire, EMS, hospitals, housing, mental health, behavioral health, peer recovery, public health, safety, school, and youth agencies," he said, adding that the table creates follow‑up rather than one‑off crisis responses.
Carmela Gear, executive director of the Edward King House Senior Center, said the table allows partners to coordinate resources (for example temporary hotel stays, medication follow‑up and housing navigation) and prevents duplicate outreach. Councilors applauded the formalization and expansion of the program; the council approved both the $40,000 special projects grant and the $200,000 application authorization.
