Title
a. Receive a presentation from Health Department staff on its updated Opioid Settlement Funds (OSF) implementation plan; and
b. Provide direction to staff as necessary.
Presenters: Shiba Sumeshwar, Management Analyst III, Lindsey O'Leary, Deputy Director of Behavioral Health
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing, Homelessness, and Human Services Committee of the Board of Supervisors:
a. Receive a presentation from Health Department staff on its updated Opioid Settlement Funds (OSF) implementation plan; and
b. Provide direction to staff as necessary.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The County of Monterey Health Department, in response to Referral No. 2022-26, presented a preliminary implementation plan to the Board of Supervisors in March 2023. Health Department staff have implemented several of the strategies identified at that time and have further developed its implementation plan to guide the strategic use of the County’s $10.1 million allocation from national opioid settlement agreements. These funds are restricted to activities that prevent, treat, and reduce the harms associated with opioid misuse and addiction, in alignment with federal and state abatement guidelines.
The Department’s plan emphasizes investments in evidence-based, high-impact strategies, including harm reduction, treatment access, prevention, and recovery support. Priority initiatives include the expansion of naloxone distribution through public kiosks and community-based partnerships, increased outreach and education across high-need communities, and the development of programs that strengthen coordination between healthcare, behavioral health, and social service providers. To date, the department has allocated $1.15 million toward harm reduction initiatives designed to foster positive behavioral change, enhance community health, and mitigate the risks associated with opioid use.
Implementation is phased over multiple fiscal years, ensuring accountability a...
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