BERRIEN COUNTY OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS HELP ADDICTS RECOVER

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH, MI – Berrien County officials have been working over the last year to set up the structure of how they plan to spend $8.2 million over 18 years, money they will receive from the nationwide opioid settlement.
Two of the three entities receiving funding so far presented to the county board last week. They were the First Church of God’s Restoration House Ministry and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office’s Medication Assisted Treatment Program. The third entity getting funding is Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center and they will report at a later date.
Restoration House Ministry Director P.J. Sando reported that the ministry has started a home for men dealing with opioid addiction in the St. Joseph area to meet the needs of men battling drug addiction and related issues.
Programs like Restoration House require the efforts of many partners to succeed. “It takes a village, I can’t do it on my own and the church can’t do it on their own,” he said. They’ve partnered with Riverwood, Kinexus, the Equal Opportunity Center, the YMCA, Intercare and Corewell and the Berrien County Jail.
Measurable outcomes so far include the house being at capacity with a waiting list, only one positive drug or alcohol test out of over 150 done and over 104 hours of community service completed. A typical day includes house residents spending time in study and group therapy, going to the gym, doing volunteer work, taking classes in financial literacy and job training, and attending Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Their future goals include achieving accreditation for rehabilitative services, which will give them access to more funding with grants and insurance, as well as help them serve men better. “We hope to have more restoration houses,” Sando said. “Men need programs like this.”
Sheriff Chuck Heit gave an update on the jail’s Medication Assisted Treatment program. He noted that about a quarter of the jail population nationwide has opioid use disorder and that medication assisted treatment is the standard of care for treating those with that disorder. Successful treatment results in less recidivism with less people re-offending and a reduction in overall crime.
Those who receive treatment while they’re in jail are more likely to continue to get treatment after they’re released. Heit added that the jail works with other entities out in the community to help those released from jail to continue on their recovery journey.
He provided statistics showing the number of people screened and assessed, the medications given, the individual treatment plans developed and continuity of care and discharge planning.
His goals for the future include continuing to get the funding needed to continue the program and expand options for inmates by partnering with others in the community.
“This news is a bit of sunshine, we look forward to hearing more about it,” County Board Chairman McKinley Elliott said. “… I want to commend the board for allowing three members to serve. That gives us eyes and ears on the process and the capacity to engage in real time with all the players. I’m glad we’re doing this.”
County Administrator Brian Dissette thanked County Commissioners Teri Freehling, Julie Wuerfel, and Mamie Yarbrough for their involvement in the review process for the distribution of opioid settlement funds. He added that the work Berrien County is doing has been used as a model statewide by the Michigan Association of Counties.
“They’re pointing to the process we’re using to select vendors, how we’re holding them accountable and how we’re being strategic in spending down funds,” he said. “That is something you should be proud of; it’s been really good work that has gone into this.”
Dissette told commissioners there’s more work to be done as the county continues to spend down the opioid settlement funds received.
Last week’s meeting also featured action on raising fees for certain services in the County Clerk’s office as well as accepting a grant to fund programs promoting the safe storage of firearms.
The Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office is receiving a $40,000 grant from the Juvenile Justice & School Safety Training Project to develop community outreach and outreach regarding safe firearm storage to prevent youth violence and suicide.
The fees for vital certified copies records provided by the County Clerk’s Office will go up June 1. The fees for birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and DBA/Co-Partnership certificates will also go up, except for those requested by senior citizens.
The first copy of each certificate in the various categories will rise from $13 to $15 with the cost of additional copies going up a dollar from $4 to $5. The cost for senior citizens 65 and older will remain at $5.