The Carroll County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee is now accepting applications from area nonprofits and healthcare providers with innovative ideas for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs in the area. Carroll County Public Health Director Maggie Pauley is co-chairing the committee alongside Carroll County Supervisor Mark McCrea. According to them, Carroll County is expected to receive more than $450,000 over the next decade, and they are ready to put that money to use.
The Carroll County Board of Supervisors created the Opioid Settlement Fund Committee earlier this year to review funding applications and provide recommendations to the board. McCrea says they’ve selected a variety of people from different backgrounds to reflect a broad section of the county’s population.
Iowa first began receiving opioid settlement funds in 2022, and some counties quickly put those funds to use. In Carroll County’s case, officials opted to hold onto the funds until they were confident about the route they wanted to take. Pauley says each county has different challenges, so they looked at what others were doing to see what works.
Applications are open now at the Carroll County Opioid Settlement Fund website, and a link to that page is included with this story online. McCrea says the committee is open to considering any and all applications, but they must comply with the federal “List of Opioid Remediation Uses.” McCrea adds that the committee is emphasizing accountability to ensure the dollars are used effectively.
The first round of applications closes at the end of September, and the committee will review the submissions by Oct. 31. The board of supervisors will review the selected application by Nov. 30, and funds will be awarded by the end of the calendar year. After that first round, applications will remain available on a quarterly basis until the funds are exhausted. Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to visit the county’s website or contact Pauley at 712-775-2660.
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https://www.carrollcountyiowa.gov/pview.aspx?id=21184&catid=563
