Crawford County approves opioid-settlement funds for treatment staff and jail MAT supports

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 24 to allocate opioid-settlement funds to expand treatment services and support medication-assisted treatment (MAT) inside the county correctional facility.

Jim, speaking for the Crawford County Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission, outlined three separate funding requests. The board approved funding for a Center of Excellence case manager position at $42,007, $20,000 to cover medical costs for uninsured or underinsured clients receiving MAT from the commission’s nurse practitioner, and $38,066.78 to hire a full-time treatment counselor assigned to the county correctional facility.

The commission said the case manager will work both in the community and in-house to bolster capacity above existing case managers. Officials explained the correctional treatment counselor is needed because Medicaid reimbursement does not cover certain medical expenses at the correctional facility under its current setup; opioid-settlement funds would bridge that gap.

All three motions were moved, seconded and approved by roll call. The board also approved a separate, non-budgeted purchase of five security cameras (installation and licensing) for the MAT program at the correctional facility for $7,485, funded from opioid-settlement dollars.

The county chair thanked commission staff for coordinating the requests and noted the board’s desire to get opioid dollars “out in the street” and into services.

Next steps: the commissioners ratified the appropriations during the meeting; any hiring, procurement or contracts stemming from these approvals will proceed under county purchasing and hiring policies.