Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee Meeting Recording – 6/18/2026

The Hancock County Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee met on June 18, 2026, to discuss the allocation and management of opioid settlement funds. The County Commissioners have indicated a commitment to set aside up to $250,000 for a first round grant process spanning up to 18 months, from June 2026 through December 2027. The committee deliberated on priorities for funding, emphasizing direct patient care needs such as transportation, housing, extended-release buprenorphine treatment, mental health counseling, and law enforcement-related expenses like drug testing and Narcan supplies. They discussed the structure of the grant application process, including the potential use of letters of intent to gauge interest and capacity, and the development of scoring rubrics to prioritize applications. The committee also considered policy and transparency issues, the role of the jail in providing mandated services, and the importance of community expertise in guiding funding decisions. Plans were made to refine the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and scoring criteria in upcoming meetings to ensure effective and equitable distribution of funds.