Commissioners add Northwestern to list of recipients for Woods County intervention grant

Woods County commissioners on the record voted to add Northwestern to the county’s list of eligible recipients for a local substance-use intervention grant, after brief discussion about partners and available funds.

Unidentified Speaker 3, participating in the discussion, said, "That's a grant we're getting through state, settlement and substance abuse" and confirmed, "It's for $20,000." The speaker later said Northwestern was asking for "about 10,000 to start." The board debated who would be included in the program and confirmed the program name as "Woods County Intervention to Prevention."

Speakers clarified that Northwest Family Services is a partner under the program and that the proposed arrangement would be a cooperative effort involving Northwestern, Bill Johnson, and the Department of Corrections/EOC. One participant noted the county holds related funds from 2024, 2025 and 2026 and distinguished this mental-health grant from federal opioid funds, saying the opioid funds have not been applied for this year.

A motion to add Northwestern to the list of eligible recipients was made, seconded and carried by voice vote; the recorded exchange included the affirmation "Aye." No detailed allocation schedule for the $20,000 was provided during the discussion.

Next steps indicated in the meeting: county staff will process the paperwork to add Northwestern to the eligible recipients list so it may be considered for disbursement under the program. The motion passed and the meeting reconvened as the Board of County Commissioners to complete the agenda.