By James Brown
Glasgow News 1
The application for organizations to apply for opioid settlement funds is now available online.
The Barren County Opioid Settlement Committee met early last week. The committee members approved the application language, and the timetable to release the applications. They are available online and are due by Thursday, Oct. 15.
At least $100,000 in opioid settlement funds will be available for programs in Barren County working in opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery.
The county began receiving funds from the opioid settlement in August 2023, and has nearly $500,000 in the fund account. None of the money received has been distributed, which led to the formation of the committee in June.
Committee chair Bethany Steenbergen said during the meeting that she does not want to distribute all of the funds, but wants to make no less than $100,000 available.
The money that remains in the fund is accruing interest, which increases the sustainability of the money, she said.
Applicants for settlement money must provide details about the organization and proposed project. They must also specify the population they intend to serve, have evidence showing a need for the program. They must also explain the evidence-based methods they will use to measure program success.
Steenbergen pointed out that they are following the opioid settlement guide established by the Kentucky Association of Counties, but that there can also be county-specific requirements.
Prior to setting the application standards, the committee reviewed the county’s recovery readiness scores. These scores were developed after the committee reviewed the county’s prevention, treatment and recovery resources presently available.
The county scored 64 out of 100 in prevention, 43 out of 100 in recovery support and 42 out of 100 in treatment.
Steenbergen said at the committee’s first meeting the scores will help the committee determine in what areas there is most need in the county.
The number of grants awarded will depend on the amount of money available for the annual allocation and the proposals received.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 19. Application finalist will be interview Nov. 16, and grants are expected to be awarded Dec. 14.
There is a special-called meeting set for Nov. 2, the committee approved at its Sept. 14 meeting.
Comments