DHS Awards Funding to Law Enforcement Agencies Working to Address the Opioid Epidemic
Application period still open for additional grant dollars
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has awarded grants to six law enforcement agencies to support their work addressing the opioid epidemic in our state. The Buffalo, Columbia, Eau Claire, Marathon, and Sawyer County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Village of Cottage Grove Police Department will receive funds to support community drug disposal programs, programs that keep people with an opioid use disorder out of jail, medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder education and awareness training for staff, and treatment for incarcerated people with an opioid use disorder.
“Law enforcement agencies are key partners in our efforts to build strong communities,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “With these grants, we’re giving them resources to advance our shared goals of improving the quality of life for the people and communities we serve by promoting hope, health, and healing.”
Earlier this year, DHS requested grant applications from all law enforcement agencies interested in receiving support for their efforts addressing the opioid epidemic. Six agencies were awarded grants:
- The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $4,950 for community drug disposal programs.
- The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $290,605 to educate and train staff on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and treat jail residents with an opioid use disorder.
- The Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $350,000 for community drug disposal programs, programs to keep people with an opioid use disorder out of jail, and to train staff on medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.
- The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $214,625 to educate and train staff on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and to treat jail residents with an opioid use disorder.
- The Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office is receiving $260,000 for programs to keep people with an opioid use disorder out of jail and to educate staff on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
- The Village of Cottage Grove Police Department is receiving $1,000 for community drug disposal programs.
The one-year grants are funded by the state’s share of the National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement received last year. The legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance directed DHS to distribute $3 million of the $31 million in 2022 settlement funds to law enforcement agencies. One million dollars of this funding was allocated for law enforcement agencies covering jurisdictions of less than 70,000 people.
The application period for the remaining funds is now open. About $1.9 million is left to be awarded, including about $443,000 specifically for law enforcement agencies serving small jurisdictions.
With these grants, nearly all of the state’s 2022 share of National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement funds have been distributed to agencies providing prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services. Find more information about how the settlement funds have been invested in strategies to protect the health and safety of all state residents on the DHS website.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Opioid Crisis
- Serenity Inns Opens New Addiction Treatment Center in Milwaukee - Serenity Inns - Aug 14th, 2024
- MKE County: County Nearly Doubles Narcan Vending Machines - Graham Kilmer - Aug 12th, 2024
- Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley Announces Placement of Eight Additional Harm Reduction Vending Machines - County Executive David Crowley - Aug 12th, 2024
- Milwaukee’s Native Community Faces Surge in Opioid Deaths - Trisha Young - Jul 8th, 2024
- MKE County: County Awards $2.8 Million To Non-Profit Opioid Programs - Graham Kilmer - Jul 2nd, 2024
- MKE County: County To Get $3 Million From Kroger In Opioid Settlement - Graham Kilmer - Jul 1st, 2024
- Court Decision Holds Up Wisconsin’s $70 Million Drug Settlement - Sarah Lehr - Jul 1st, 2024
- MKE County: Opioid Settlement Will Fund 7 New, Expanded Abatement Efforts - Graham Kilmer - Jun 28th, 2024
- Legislators Agree on Opioid Plan, Still Withhold PFAS, Hospital Funds - Erik Gunn - May 8th, 2024
- Baldwin Announces Over $17.7 Million to Tackle Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis in Wisconsin - U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin - May 7th, 2024
Read more about Opioid Crisis here
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