Washington County has upped the ante on financial support for community-based projects that will be funded by opioid settlement dollars.
In 2024, the county’s Opioid Settlement Council awarded its first round of grants totaling more than $500,000 to eight community-based projects. This year, the grant total jumps to $700,000, and the county is currently accepting applications.
“People may be aware of the opioid settlements out there, with billions of dollars intended to go out and support communities across the country,” said Sean Young-Stephens, program coordinator, Washington County Public Health and Environment. “I think we’re really proud of what we’re doing here in Washington County.”
One example of the eight funded projects from 2024 is Waymakers to Recovery.
“This was a project that originally came to the selecting committee as basically a pitch,” said Young-Stephens. “Using their grant funding, the team over at Waymakers has successfully built this new organization that’s opened doors in Forest Lake.”
Waymakers to Recovery offers peer recovery specialists who are trained to help someone struggling with addiction become ready and willing to seek treatment, explore their options, improve access to medication-assisted therapy, and offer guidance post-treatment.
Not only have Washington County’s grant selections proven successful, but the county’s selection model also received national attention.
“Many of the contractors had to show us that what they were going to be doing was evidence-based,” explained Rolando Vera, Jr., correctional health and nursing manager, Washington County Public Health and Environment. “We held ourselves to that standard when we built this model.”
Built from the ground up and compatible with state and government regulations, the Washington County model was recognized with three awards, the Promising Practice Award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo), and the Award for Excellence in the Application of the Opioid Litigation Principles from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
“We’re really honored and humbled that we got these three recognitions within the same year,” said Vero. “The truth is, we built this with the intention to share power with community, and these awards are just a testament to the county’s commitment to engage community in solutions.”
Washington County is currently accepting 2025 applications for community-based opioid projects to be funded with the $700,000 available opioid settlement dollars. The opportunity is open to everyone, and applicants can range from organizations to individual community members.
Eligible projects must serve Washington County community members and fall into one of thirteen categories, including the priority categories of treating opioid use disorder (OUD), addressing the needs of criminal justice-involved persons, and preventing overdose deaths and other harm reduction. The county notes that diversity and underserved communities will be prioritized across all funding categories.