Bullitt County mental health court asks Shepherdsville for $10,000 from opioid settlement funds

Bullitt County Attorney Tammy Baker and Will Duff, director of the county’s mental health court and juvenile drug court programs, presented Shepherdsville’s city council with an overview of their diversion program and requested $10,000 from the city’s opioid settlement allocation.

Will Duff described the program as “a diversion program, very similar to drug court,” explaining it is a one-year program with four phases that serves misdemeanors and class D felonies and offers on-site assessments through a partnership with U of L Peace Hospital. Duff said the program wraps participants in services including residential or outpatient treatment, housing support and workforce referrals.

Baker said the program has had eight graduates to date and reported “0 recidivism among our graduates,” noting a high success rate for those who complete the program. Baker and Duff outlined how the requested $10,000 would be used—chiefly for drug screening, participant incentives and graduation costs—and proposed quarterly updates to Shepherdsville staff and council if funding were provided.

Council expressed support for partnering with the county program and indicated the city would consider an initial $10,000 allocation from opioid settlement funds with the option to renew support in future budgets, contingent on reporting and documentation of eligible use under the settlement statute.