Commissioners direct opioid-settlement funds to hire county peer support specialist; sheriff cites program success

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners voted to direct opioid-settlement funds to bring the peer support specialist program in-house under the sheriff's detention center.

County Manager Frankie told the board the contract with First Step is ending and the resolution is needed to allocate the budgeted funds in a way that complies with the opioid settlement. Sheriff Pete, speaking after the vote, said the peer support specialist and partnerships with treatment providers are changing lives: "One of the greatest privileges that we have at the Sheriff's Office is seeing lives transformed." He described an inmate who completed long-term treatment, earned college degrees and was later hired by the treatment provider, saying the partnership produces tangible results.

Commissioners emphasized the importance of coordinating with existing treatment providers rather than 'reinventing the wheel' and noted the sheriff's office works with Samaritan Colony, House of Pearls and other facilities to place residents into long-term care. The board approved the resolution on a motion and vote; no dollar amount was changed in the motion, and the resolution's text was adopted to allow staff to proceed with contracting and implementation.

The county manager and sheriff said the program operates alongside other recovery services and will continue to refer people to established facilities. Staff were directed to proceed with the contracting steps permitted by the adopted resolution and to return to the board if additional board action is required.