ROCKINGHAM — New programs wanting to use a portion of Richmond County’s allocation from various opioid settlements will have to wait.
The Richmond County Board of Commissioners on May 5 opted to continue funding current programs, but denied any new requests recommended by the Drug Endangered Family Task Force.
While DEFT makes recommendations, commissioners have the final decision on how settlement money is spent.
Because of his association with one of the ongoing projects, Commissioner Jason Gainey recused himself from voting.
Those ongoing program allocations included:
Social Services Director Theressa Smith said the funding for the drug court was the same as what was approved last year, not a new allocation.
“At this point, they have not…pulled down any funding…we’re not asking for anything in addition,” Smith said.
Superior Court Judge Dawn Layton told the RO on May 6 that she was still working to “build a strong team” for the drug treatment court and hopes to have the first session following training in July.
“I am so excited to get DTC started here in Richmond County and look forward to working with our District Attorney's Office, law enforcement, probation officers, defense attorneys, treatment providers and other team members to give persons addicted and their families an opportunity for a new beginning,” Layton said.
Smith told commissioners that Samaritan Colony had not used all of its prior allocation of $75,000 for the SECU Women’s Recovery Center since it just opened in February.
Click here to read about the grand opening.
Click here to read about two of the clients.
Commissioner Jamie Gathings questioned why the men’s center was approved for more than $100,000 when the limit was $75,000, and Smith explained the amount being recommended was the combined amount of the last year’s original allocation, as well as a reallocation from a project that dropped out.
In-house appropriations included:
Smith said the county did not spend any money for Narcan since the prior allocation.
The Tri-County Child Advocacy Center was also listed as one of the in-house projects, with a recommendation of $75,000.
While Richmond County has not considered the CAC for opioid funds, Smith said that Anson County uses its settlement money to pay its portion for the center.
Smith said the CAC — which serves children in Richmond, Anson and Scotland counnties who have experienced physical or sexual abuse — would fall under the early intervention category, with hopes to grow the existing prevention program.
“What we have seen is that our children that we see there are (at a) very high risk for substance misuse,” Smith said, adding that Anson contributes $25,000 to the program.
Commissioner Jamie Gathings moved to reduce the allocation to $25,000 to match Anson.
During the discussion of that motion, Dr. Tommy Jarrell told commissioners he estimated that, by the end of the fiscal year, only about two-thirds of what was allocated would be used. Anything not used “rolls back into the pot.”
Gathings’ motion stalled at a 3-3 split, prompting Grooms to move to accept the other in-house recommendations and table the CAC appropriation until commissioners receive more information on the CAC program.
Commissioners Jeff Smart (chairman), left, Justin Dawkins and Jamie Gathings listen to proposals during the May 5 meeting.
William R. Toler - Richmond Observer
“I’m all for us being able to counteract Richmond County taxpayer dollars that would have been used for that,” said Commissioner Justin Dawkins. However, he added that he wanted to make sure the opioid funds were being spread appropriately.
“We really should scrutinize any additional programs pretty heavily,” Dawkins continued. “And I would honestly like to see a true effectiveness analysis of our current programs as we go into budget season of next year (to make sure we’re funding the right things.”
As for new projects, Smith said DEFT received four applications from the latest request for proposals and selected two: $35,000 for a program by Richmond County Hospice; and $75,000 for the “From the Street to Your Feet” program by Richmond County Rescue Mission.
“I would say that we don’t start any new programs right now,” said Grooms, echoing the earlier sentiment from Dawkins about being “good stewards” of the money and taking a look “at the programs we currently have.”
Grooms moved to deny the new requests, which was seconded by Dawkins and later passed by majority.
During discussion of the motion, Commissioner Dr. Rick Watkins asked Grooms if he would be willing to consider tabling the requests.
“I think we can come up at any point and spend this money,” Grooms said. “We have a process to do it like you’re doing tonight … but, if we come up in the middle of the year and decide we want to fund a program, then we can do it. To table it or vote against it … I don’t see the difference.”
Gainey questioned if the application process should have been closed “instead of on the back end after the effort’s put in.”
“That question captured the procedural issue now facing the county,” reads a press release from Richmond County Rescue Mission, issued the following week. “Agencies were invited to apply. DEFT reviewed applications. A recommendation was made. The proposal was placed before commissioners. Then the Board rejected the new projects based on concerns about strategy, effectiveness, and program evaluation, the same concerns DEFT was created to address.
“For RCRM, the decision is another setback in a longer effort to secure support in East Rockingham,” the press release continues. “The Mission is repeatedly described as a front-line provider for people experiencing homelessness, addiction, reentry barriers, and behavioral health crisis. It offers an integrated continuum of care through transitional housing, recovery services, emergency shelter, peer counseling, spiritual care, referrals to detox and mental health treatment, and vocational training through Richmond Community College.”
During the meeting, Gathings also mentioned forming a task force — to include commissioners and “prominent” community members — to focus on the county’s homeless and drug issues.
“I just think we’ve got to really start focusing on our own problems, we’ve got to start handling it, not the community out there,” Gathings said. “Homeless and drugs is the county’s problem…we need to step up and take responsibility of it.”
