Title
Resolution Directing the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds
Body
LEGISLATIVE INTENT/PURPOSE:
WHEREAS, the City of Wilmington is a party to litigation that has resulted in national settlement agreements with companies engaged in the manufacturing, distribution, and dispensing of opioids, or who have otherwise contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis across the United States; and,
WHEREAS, the allocation, use, and reporting of funds stemming from these national settlement agreements and certain bankruptcy resolutions ("Settlement Funds") are governed by a set of agreements, including 1) the “Memorandum of Agreement Between the State of North Carolina and Local Governments on Proceeds Relating to the Settlement of Opioid Litigation” ("NCMOA"); 2) the “Supplemental Agreement for Additional Funds from Additional Settlements of Opioid Litigation” (“SAAF”); and 3) an interlocal agreement between the City and New Hanover County regarding the allocation of Settlement Funds (“ILA”); and,
WHEREAS, the City of Wilmington has received Settlement Funds pursuant to these national settlement agreements, and has deposited the Settlement Funds in a separate special revenue fund as, required by section D of the NCMOA; and,
WHEREAS, section E.6 of the NCMOA states:
"E.6. Process for drawing from special revenue funds.
a. Budget item or resolution required. Opioid Settlement Funds can be used for a purpose when the Governing Body includes in its budget or passes a separate resolution authorizing the expenditure of a stated amount of Opioid Settlement Funds for that purpose or those purposes during a specified period of time.
b. Budget item or resolution details. The budget or resolution should (i) indicate that it is an authorization for expenditure of opioid settlement funds; (ii) state the specific strategy or strategies the county or municipality intends to fund pursuant to Option A or Option B, using the item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to identify each funded strategy, and (iii) state the amount dedicated to each strategy for a stated period of time."; and,
WHEREAS, the ILA requires the formation of both a joint staff committee and a joint elected committee, working together to combine Settlement Funds to make a greater impact on our community; and,
WHEREAS, both committees required by the ILA have met and agreed on the needed allocation of the Settlement Funds, and those recommendations have been presented to and tentatively approved by both the Wilmington City Council and the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the ILA, and consistent with all other agreements, the City will transfer Settlement Funds received on an annual basis to the County, except for funding used in a specific City-only capacity (i.e. the purchase of Naloxone replacement for the Wilmington Police Department).
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
THAT, in alignment with the NCMOA, the SAAF, and the ILA, the City of Wilmington authorizes the expenditure of Settlement Funds, to be consolidated with New Hanover County Settlement Funds, as follows:
1. First strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Withdrawal management services.
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: A7
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $1,350,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date July 1, 2024 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: This will enhance patient retention in MOUD treatment, prevent relapse, and improve management of withdrawal symptoms for providers.
g. Provider: Coastal Horizons and OpiAID
2. Second strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Address the needs of pregnant or parenting women and their families, including babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: E1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $1,400,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date July 1, 2024, through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Tides, Inc. provides preventative treatment and support services for women with OUD while pregnant, so they are able to give birth to a healthy baby, learn critical parenting and life skills, and retain custody of the child.
g. Provider: Tides, Inc.
3. Third strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Recovery support services
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: 3
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $4,745,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date July 1, 2024, through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Provides low barrier non-medical detox, residential drug services, and transitional recovery housing for individuals with OUD.
g. Provider: The Healing Place
4. Fourth strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Evidence-based addiction treatment
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: 2
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $1,087,156
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date July 1, 2024, through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: To increase access to evidence-based treatment by ensuring timely access to treatment, assist with outreach/engagement for new and hard-to-reach patients; provide naloxone supplies for existing patients and community members; support for cost of suboxone for patients who need assistance.
g. Provider: MedNorth
5. Fifth strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Evidence-based addiction treatment
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: 2
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $640,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date July 1, 2024, through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: This program will provide treatment for New Hanover County residents with OUD at a Recovery Unplugged facility, such as, but not limited to, the following treatment options: 30-Day Detox & Residential Treatment or 3-6 Month Detox & Residential Treatment.
g. Provider: Recovery Unplugged/Face the Music
6. Sixth strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Collaborative strategic planning
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: 1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $368,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date July 1, 2024, through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: This position will be responsible for supporting the implementation of strategic initiatives from the proposal phase to the data collection and reporting phase of the initiative. They will also be responsible for providing research and analysis of evidence-based programs that are under consideration. This position will work closely with the current Strategy Manager and current Strategy Data Analyst who will also be providing support.
g. Provider: New Hanover County Office of Strategy
7. Seventh strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Training
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: K1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $80,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2026
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: School Resource Officers (SRO) will be trained on how teach the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, an evidence-based K-12 Opioid abuse prevention program.
g. Provider: New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, D.A.R.E. Program
8. Eighth strategy authorized:
a. Name of strategy: Addiction treatment for incarcerated persons
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item 11
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $910,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Currently, we are providing Medication-Assisted Treatment for individuals already on MAT. This is the second phase, that allows for inmates to choose to begin MAT treatment plan through an induction process in detention facilities.
g. Providers: Coastal Horizons
9. Ninth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Expand availability of treatment for OUD.
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item A1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $1,688,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: The EMS MAT Program offers an individual the opportunity to begin a Medication Assisted Treatment program by offering buprenorphine after an opioid overdose event, and then uses community paramedics and post overdose response teams to follow up and continue to provide medication and support until the person can be placed in long-term OUD treatment.
g. Providers: Novant Health
10. Tenth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Naloxone replacement for New Hanover County Sheriff's Office and City of Wilmington Police Department
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item Hl
d. Amounted authorized for this strategy: $170,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place: August 21, 2023, through June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. This will increase the amount of Naloxone by 200 units/year.
g. Provider: New Hanover County Sheriff's Office and City of Wilmington Police Department
11. Eleventh authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Employment-related services
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item 5
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $200,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Program offers employment support services to people with opioid use disorder in treatment or recovery such as job training, job skills, job placement, interview coaching, resume review, professional attire, relevant courses at community colleges or vocational schools, transportation services or transportation vouchers to facilitate any of these activities, or similar services or supports.
g. Provider: LINC.
12. Twelfth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Recovery housing support
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item 4
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $475,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Provides rental assistance for women with OUD who graduated from Tides program and are in recovery.
g. Provider: Tides
13. Thirteenth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Recovery housing support
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit A
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item 4
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $775,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: The Housing Supportive Services program is intended to ensure residents who are recovering from opioid addiction can find and secure safe and affordable housing. Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, short-term recovery housing characterized by living settings that promote opioid free living for up to one (1) year and utilizes peer support and other addiction recovery aids. Eligible activities may provide professional low-intensity residential services for adults who are diagnosed with an opioid use disorder and require regular supervision.
g. Providers: Coastal Horizons.
14. Fourteenth authorized strategy
a. Name of strategy: Comprehensive wrap-around services.
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item B1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $875,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Wrap-around services are any services that are not treatment, but instead are services that “wrap around” individuals and help them get into treatment, stay in recovery, or prevent opioid use. Examples include housing, childcare, transportation, job training or getting needed education.
g. Provider: Providers will be determined after Strategies 1-9 have been launched to ensure services fill existing gaps.
15. Fifteenth authorized strategy
a. Name of strategy: Full continuum of care of treatment and recovery services.
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item B2
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $375,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Continuum of care services are any services that are not treatment, but instead are services that help individuals get into treatment, stay in recovery, or prevent opioid use. Examples include continuum of care through peer support, counseling, case management, etc.
g. Provider: Providers will be determined after Strategies 1-9 have been launched to ensure services fill existing gaps.
16. Sixteenth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Expand availability of treatment for OUD.
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item A1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $625,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Provides funding for medically assisted treatment and associated therapy for underinsured & uninsured patients who cannot afford them to reduce unnecessary trips to the Emergency Department and reduce overdoses.
g. Provider: Coastal Horizons.
17. Seventeenth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Fund media campaigns to prevent opioid misuse
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item G1
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $125,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Public service announcements and media campaigns about opioid use prevention.
g. Provider: New Hanover County Communications & Outreach
18. Eighteenth authorized strategy:
a. Name of strategy: Corrective advertising or affirmative public education campaigns based on evidence.
b. Strategy is included in Exhibit B
c. Item letter and/or number in Exhibit A or Exhibit B to the MOA: Item G2
d. Amount authorized for this strategy: $100,000
e. Period of time during which expenditure may take place:
Start date August 21, 2023 through End date June 30, 2028
f. Description of the program, project, or activity: Education and outreach programs related to opioid use disorder.
g. Provider: New Hanover County Communications & Outreach
THAT, the total dollar amount of Settlement Funds from both the City and New Hanover County appropriated across the above-named authorized strategies is $15,988,155.50.