REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 14, 2025
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Revision to the Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the revision to the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan, increasing the amount by $1,039,930, from $21,209,602 to $22,249,532, to address the opioid epidemic within the county.
2. Authorize the addition of three positions to assist with the Friday Night Live Initiative for the Department of Public Health, under the following classifications:
a. Two Health Education Specialist I, Administrative Unit, Range 46 ($53,352-$73,341)
b. One Public Health Program Coordinator, Supervisory Unit, Range 63 ($80,704-$111,093)
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The requested $1,039,930 increase to the Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan to expand programs to address the opioid epidemic within San Bernardino County (County) will be funded by opioid settlement funds received from several pharmaceutical companies. The increase includes a $964,930 increase to the Friday Night Live Initiative (FNL), and a $75,000 increase for administrative costs. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) 2024-25 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County has been a party to several settlements against pharmaceutical companies for their involvement in the opioid crisis across the country. To date, the County has secured $33,126,018 in settlement funds and anticipates receiving additional funding spread over an 18-year period to be used to combat the effects of the opioid crisis.
DPH aims to promote healthier communities through increasing awareness and education regarding the dangers of opioid use through the following initiatives: Countywide Data Dashboard, FNL Program Expansion, and Outreach and Education.
DPH is requesting a $964,930 increase to the FNL Program Expansion, which establishes youth chapters in local high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools (upper grades) that engage youth and promote healthy behaviors. The DPH FNL Program Expansion team serves as a partner and facilitator for each chapter in implementing the chosen activity plans for the academic year. Currently, there are 28 FNL, Club Live or FNL Kids chapters in 11 school districts in the County. DPH is requesting to add three positions to ensure the retention of active, established FNL chapters across multiple academic years, plus the addition of new chapters each academic year. One Public Health Program Coordinator position will oversee the program and two Health Education Specialist I positions will facilitate chapter meetings and activities. The increase to the FNL initiative will also support operational costs such as a Social Emotional Learning Conference for staff, stipends for chapter advisors, the development of local youth councils, media development, and sponsorship for up to 100 youths to attend a Youth Summit who will serve as presenters to their Statewide peers. In addition, an increase in the media campaign component of the FNL Initiative is requested to reach out to more residents to increase awareness and provide education on the dangers of opioid abuse. DPH, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) are in the process of developing a Request for Proposals to procure marketing services.
Human Services is requesting an increase of $75,000 to the Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan to provide administrative support for the County’s opioid initiatives. The increase will allow staff to review opioid regulations and make recommendations for County compliance, develop and manage County opioid budgets and fiscal processes, and review and complete reporting requirements.
On July 11, 2023 (Item No. 21), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan allocating $23,500,000 in available opioid settlement funding toward the following three strategic initiatives: 1) DBH’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services ($2,100,000), 2) DPH’s Opioid Response Initiative ($1,400,000), and 3) DBH’s SUD Withdrawal Management/Residential Facility Infrastructure Support ($20,000,000).
On July 23, 2024 (Item No. 27), the Board approved a revision to the County Opioid Settlement Funding Expenditure Plan allocating $21,209,602 in available opioid settlement funding toward the following three strategic initiatives: 1) DBH’s SUD Services ($5,218,083), 2) DPH’s Opioid Response Initiative ($1,542,000), and 3) DBH’s SUD Withdrawal Management/Residential Facility Infrastructure Support ($14,116,519).
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Charles Phan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 20, 2024; Behavioral Health (Jennifer Alsina, Assistant Director, 388-0808) on December 20, 2024; Public Health (Janki Patel, Assistant Director, 387-9146) on December 20, 2024; Human Resources (Gina King, Assistant Director, 387-5560) on December 23, 2024; Finance (Chris Lange, Deputy Director, 386-8393) on December 19, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238, and Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on December 26, 2024.