Groups with concerns can contact local county commissioners, he said.
“I have seen a commitment to address the crisis, which takes time,” said Dolinki. “When they (local officials) understand the urgency of obtaining dollars in the community, they also want to assure that the dollars reach out to those who intend to reach (money).”
Some states are taking more centralized approaches to spend opioid settlement funds. In Colorado, most of the money goes to the regional institutions established for settlement funds, which decide in coordination with state officials. In Michigan, an agreement on an agreement between the state’s Attorney General’s office and the municipalities gave the local people almost over the total control over spending half of the settlement fund, with no reporting requirement.
Reasons: The state required a vast majority of local governments to signed disposal to maximize the funds received by Michigan, and municipalities wanted to maintain control, according to Matthew Walker, a lawyer at Michigan Attorney General’s office, who was involved in talks.
Some counties have websites whose information is how settlement fund is spent. But some providers say that local governments need to do better about listing on websites, how to apply for money.
Jonathan Stoltman, director of the National Opioid Policy Institute, said, “State, counties and cities need to make it accessible and understandable.” “If I keep hitting a brick wall, … at some point, I just give up.”
Some providers are worried that funding decision making is not knowledgeable about services in their communities.
“Most of these people have no clue about drug abuse disorder,” said Lori Ziolkovsky, director of chapter development for families against drugs in Bay City.
“A lot of (local officials) depend on community mental health and (local) health department – we will give them money and let them find out,” Ziolkovsky said. “But this is a very competitive place, so when the money is presented, there is not always much interest in sharing.
“My concern is that small, more agile organizations working on rubber bands and paper clips may not be able to reach these funds.”
In Wayne County, Dr. Kanjoni Asbigi said that the provider just wanted to be on the table. “
“Before you decide about spending money, (you) is required for individuals in recovery and treatment providers so that we can tell you what is going on,”. Asbigi, vice president of the Detroit Recovery Project, provides outpatient aid services for substance’s use and mental health disorders.