County seeks community feedback on opioid settlement funds

Waseca County Public Health is the chief strategist in handling more than $1 million allocated to the county in the national opioid settlement. 

 

“Most important is that we hear from the community on how they feel these funds should be allocated based on what they see, what they’re experiencing, along with the providers in the area as well,” said Andrea Kronbach, a coordinator in the public health department. 

 

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office joined a $26 billion multistate settlement agreement in July of 2021, bringing in more than $300 million to Minnesota counties over the following 18 years. According to the attorney general's office, 75 percent of the funds will go to counties and cities and 25 percent to the state. Waseca County is scheduled to receive, over time, a total of $1,070,373, to be used and rolled over for 13 or 14 years. 

 

Kronbach has been with public health for two years and said she was tasked with helping manage the opioid settlement money beginning last summer. She said she began by sending out notice that a local advisory committee should be formed; she held some initial community meetings to gather input and share information about the opioid settlement.

Now, there is an Opioid Settlement Advisory Council, currently consisting of 16 individuals from the community, to assist public health in advising the Waseca County Board of Commissioners on the disbursement of the settlement funds. The council’s first meeting was at the end of May. 

 

It was at that meeting the council agreed a survey would be the best way to capture the community’s thoughts on how funds should be disbursed, Kronbach said. She added they are seeking input from anyone who lives, works, received services in, or sends their kids to school in Waseca County. The survey will remain open through early fall.

 

“The responses that we’re getting so far, I’m pleased with,” Kronbach said. But she added they always need more input. 

 

At the county fair this month, public health had a booth with buckets labeled with different ways funding could be spent. Participants were asked to put a bead or beads to indicate their personal preferences. 

 

The buckets were labeled “prevention and education,” “harm reduction and treatment,” “support and recovery,” “law enforcement and policy,” “community engagement” and “research and data,” according to Kronbach. 

 

“It’s not surprising to me that currently, prevention and education and support and recovery are kind of the higher areas that people are feeling need more funding,” Kronbach said. 

 

However, she acknowledges it is very early in the feedback gathering process. Kronbach said the advisory council consists of people from all sectors. From law enforcement, court and human services, fire and rescue to healthcare clinics and school districts. She said even one of the school district superintendents is joining the committee. But there is also room for more people on the council. 

 

“What I would like to see more of, actually, is individuals of experience. So we do have a little bit of that representation, and/or people who have been affected by it within their family or close friends–but hearing from individuals with lived experiences,” Kronbach said. 

 

As for the community response, Kronbach said she thinks the community knows that opioid addiction has had profound negative effects, not just in Waseca County but statewide and worldwide. 

 

“I get a sense they’re pleased to know we have some funds to be able to hopefully do some work on the opioid epidemic,” she said. 

 

Kronbach added that the council and public health are working to expand upon efforts that are already happening and helping the great work that’s already being done in the community, including mental health efforts. 

 

The advisory council and public health will not be working alone and Kronbach said they will be using the John Hopkins Principles for the use of funds from the opioid litigation to guide their work. This includes principles such as spending the money to save lives, using evidence to guide spending, investing in youth prevention, focusing on racial equity and developing a fair and transparent process for deciding where to spend the funding. 

 

“We’re following some best practices. And then also there’ve other counties, bigger counties, that have started this work ahead of us: There are some blueprints out there that we’re also utilizing,” Kronbach said. 

 

The next advisory council meeting is at 11 a.m. on Aug. 4 in the public health office. Kronbach encourages community members to come if they wish. 

 

Anyone wishing to join the advisory council can apply on the public health website or at https://forms.office.com/g/t19LVbRY3c. Everyone is encouraged to take the opioid settlement survey at https://forms.office.com/g/mDc5gAhTBd or on their website.