Central to the meeting was the discussion on how the opioid settlement funds are being utilized to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. Sydney Fry from the Community Corrections Department provided an update on the initiatives funded by the settlement, including the formation of a Drug and Alcohol Response Team (DART) and the launch of the Credible Mind platform. The DART team, consisting of a licensed counselor, social worker, and peer recovery specialists, supports individuals struggling with addiction by leveraging lived experiences and fostering community connections. Over nine months, the team has made over 2,100 contacts, serving more than 400 unique clients, and achieved a 93% success rate in follow-up outreach after overdose incidents.

The Credible Mind platform, an online resource for mental health, has been tailored to include local resources and translated into multiple languages to increase accessibility. It has seen a significant rise in usage, with a 64% increase in the last quarter and over 1,500 users exploring topics like depression and anxiety. Plans to expand the platform’s reach include developing a promotional campaign and educating care providers on its use.

Further discussions highlighted the “Be in the Know” digital campaign, which aimed to raise opioid awareness through targeted ads across Google, Meta, and Snapchat. This campaign achieved notable engagement metrics, with nearly 3 million views on Google alone. Although a repeat campaign is not yet planned, the website remains active for continued outreach.

In addition to substance use initiatives, the Board addressed developments in children’s mental health services. The partnership with Zumbro Valley Health Center is shifting towards a more integrated care model, focusing on mental health and substance use disorder treatment. The transition involves placing three case managers within Zumbro Valley’s youth hub. This change aims to better meet the needs of youth requiring early intervention and those at risk of residential placement.

The mental health service landscape was scrutinized, with concerns over the lack of available beds and the pressures faced by emergency departments like Mayo Clinic’s. The need for legislative action and collaborative efforts to address these deficiencies was emphasized, along with the importance of creating a navigator system to streamline access to mental health services.

Financial matters related to the opioid settlement funds were also examined, with questions about the timing and allocation of payments. The County has established an opioid settlement fund to manage these finances, emphasizing the need to focus on immediate needs rather than long-term stretches of the settlement period.

The meeting further explored the role of grand juries, particularly in serious criminal cases, and the challenges associated with maintaining confidentiality and managing case timing. The prosecutor detailed the differences between grand juries and district courts, highlighting the intricacies of the secretive process.