SUBJECT:
Title
Request Approval of Regional Opioid Settlement Committee Recommendation for Funding to WellFlorida Council’s Nurse-Family Partnership (Budget Impact - Neutral; not to exceed $93,005)
Body
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Cheryl Butler, Director |
Community Services |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
On November 5, 2024, the Board approved the Interlocal Agreement to monitor and review the expenditure of opioid settlement funds between Marion County and Marion County Hospital District (MCHD), followed by a First Amendment on December 17, 2024. This agreement designates MCHD as the disbursement agent responsible for distribution, vetting, monitoring, and reporting of expenditures for regional opioid funds.
On June 16, 2026, the Board approved the 2026-27 Marion County Regional Opioid Abatement Plan, which established five (5) funding priorities recommended by the Opioid Settlement Committee to include:
• Expansion of Warm Handoff Programs and Recovery Services
• Pregnant and Postpartum Women
• Connections to Care
• Support People in Treatment and Recovery
• Address the Needs of Criminal-Justice-Involved Persons
On October 7, 2026, the Opioid Settlement Committee reviewed and recommended approval of six (6) projects consistent with the approved priorities. Of these, two (2) are renewal projects previously funded, and four (4) are new projects. Each project will be presented to the Board for consideration as a separate agenda item.
One of the recommended new projects is the WellFlorida Council’s Nurse-Family Partnership, a program that provides evidence-based home-visiting services to pregnant individuals with substance use disorders or a history of substance use and their families through the child’s second birthday. The program aligns with the “Pregnant and Postpartum Women” and “Support People in Treatment and Recovery” funding priorities by providing health education, care coordination, treatment referrals, and recovery support to promote healthy pregnancies, child development, and family self-sufficiency. The recommended funding of $89,000 will support the continuation of one (1) nurse position serving Marion County, with an additional $89,000 contributed by the Marion County Hospital District to cover the program’s $178,000 annual budget. This shared funding approach will sustain services following the loss of previous state funding and maintain access to critical support for families affected by substance use.
The recommended award is $89,000 and in accordance with MCDH’s Interlocal Agreement with the County, a 4.5% administrative allocation is required, bringing the total recommended distribution to $93,005.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
Neutral; not to exceed $93,005
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Motion to approve the recommendation and authorize the Marion County Hospital District to issue Agreements and distribute the approved funds to WellFlorida Council’s Nurse-Family Partnership.
end