Start the meeting for the regional opioid abatement Council region to so call to order. We looks like we have all voting members present for here in the room. And we've got Cindy and Ryan both on Zoom. So my correct Kaylani about voting members. Oh, wow. Great. So with that, we'll move through our agenda is rather vague. What I am going to ask today is that we keep comments brief to the point I want to make sure we hear everybody and we want to get to the end of the last agenda item, we're gonna take some time there to listen to our lived experience against the future. So with that, I'll move right along the approval of the march 2. Meeting next Hello. Motion and acceptance. Any further conversation? You're not all those in favor, aye. Those pics on the agenda is you know, it's been a while since we've met it was March 2. So we want to provide some updates from the General Attorney General's office. And I reached out to contacts so the first one is our financial reporting. All turnovers. Carol blah.
Thank you just doing a soundcheck. Can people hear me loud and clear? Perfect. Caitlin, would you be so kind as to bring up the Budget to Actual?
Perfect, thank you. So our first item is to go through the budget versus actual expenditures through May 15 of this year. There was an interesting article in the news, which Commissioner Shattuck McNally shared about a entity in Georgia who hadn't used their settlement funds in the community to deal with opioid issues. And I'm glad to report that that is not our situation as at all you'll be able to see from this exactly where our funds went. And we've made some good progress and getting that funding out into the community. So the first section shows the revenues, and we've received a little over $2. That's what we budgeted in settlement funds. So one column shows the budget. And then the column next to it shows the actuals. And then on interest on investments, we have actually received about $12,000 on those $2 million, and funds. As far as expenditures. The categories listed here are the categories that are in the approved plan that the Council put together. And the first category is treatment and under treatment, it's care coordination. And the council approved a $650,000 grant to North Colorado Health Alliance. And thus far, half of that amount has been distributed for our grant agreement. Under prevention, there comes school based programs. And that was $400,000 to CSU on behalf of our local school districts, and 200,000 of that has been distributed. The next one is harm reduction. And the council gave a grant agreement to Northern Colorado Health Network. And again half of that has been distributed. Under additional areas for first responders for the CO responder unit, the council obligated or allocated $550,000 to the sheriff Larimer County Sheriff and half of that's been paid, and then the remainder is for administrative costs. And thus far we've reimburse the county for administrative costs incurred last year. So any questions about any of that information?
Your question MJ.
Yeah. Carolyn's not a question more of a comment. Just so you know, this documented later on down the line. The 650,000 To the north Colorado Health Alliance includes the treatment but also the evaluation committee. Education and provider education. And I just want to make sure that that that is very clear.
It's great. Thank you. Yeah, I think I may be abbreviated the title a little too much in the interest of space, but yeah, there's
a few things but
big a big task ahead of you.
Any other questions? Questions online, sometimes it's harder for me to see people who see the answer.
As a reminder, this wasn't under fire to get this to the state row. But nonetheless, moving forward for a second, and we have time. And we're going to start with today, as well, as you see returning anything on your, on your calendar now for June, July, August, September. So we can spend more deliberative time to look at next year. So this is year one. And we'll start working on year two today. Also, with year one, if you were from my, if everyone remembers that six months, each of the awardees will come to the council to present where they're at their findings, etc. Before the second half of that money is awarded. So there is that piece of well, as well. So if you have questions with that.
Because the way it's set up, as it was fast, we did get MJ and
several others kind of community experts to kind of give us advice and stuff at the beginning.
Knowing that this is for the total length of time, it's 18 years, where is it appropriate for us to look at, when and what if any of these would likely continue which ones things that we may be discontinuous at based on the reports that we get from the people
I see all the above, others can jump in, I think that starts today, as well, as of the six month check in, do remember, we aren't going to get $2 million in the second year of that. So it was front loaded with the 18 years. So we got the two point, almost 1 million, it will be less the last number we got was 800,000 We know that will go up because there's been more settlements that have been occurred. So there will be additional dollars, but not 2 million. So there's going to be some things that either aren't be funded at all, or will be funded fully at the amount we've had the first year just due to the amount of funding we'll get.
And I think also, if we do look forward, if I might Mr. Chair, getting some research out of you know, some data and stuff on this. So we we aren't funding them, or at least disagreement a small portion, we don't have, we really shouldn't say we want to keep having access to what you're doing. The initial investment keeps going on. So let's say northern Colorado Health Network is trying to reach down in other parts of the county that they haven't really bang. People that say, welcome damping. So it would be interesting to see kind of that progress, when it's students that maybe won't be as much or let's say with MJ, you know, research with education and curiosity to be interesting to see
the results from that,
right. And so if we, if we don't least, on something, you know, even like the CO responder, why don't think they're going to be those those same, those same numbers, but at least it gives us to try and keep them rolling. I know, for like the first as far as somebody that finishes on that's good and move those funding streams, you know, for being sustainable. But I think, you know, we have those first six months, we're gonna get data and if we don't, if dunno if it's really appropriate for us to ask them to continue to give us information and how things are going in regards to disk disk night club is just, I don't know what it looks like. But I think that's a conversation for us to have ongoing and what this looks like. I think it is 1.2 that we're getting
about Yeah, David's saying as well. We'll be a little less but more than we thought.
But it sounds like one of the things you're saying is that some of it could be seed money to get things started and sent the long term was really for them to find the diversification of funds to keep the building Yeah, so I'm thinking because I think we're funding and then I think that step down approach like just go like school district had a several years ago I had a friend for helping get counseling to help kids We're starting to have behavioral issues at school, it was kind of a saint of time to get the counselors to get the program in place. And then they knew that it was like the step down. So by the end of five years, they had to be sustainable. And so, and at first I thought, Well, gee, we'll go in and pull it out. But then the other thing is kind of a life soft landing place to kind of not just stop that kind of gives them that chance to kind of get traction, keep going. So I just thought, I mean, there's, there's so much going on. And I think the next six months as well, for the county, especially with a lot of things coming on the palate, there's lots of information to consider on the horizon for
lives.
Thank you, for chiefs.
And the guests. Can I ask
a question with the first responders are
those police officers or mental health clinicians and
on a beach they are for police officers. That's a tool that we have is actually being funded.
Kind of like a lab. So funding this as well as paid to the Commission's, this is for the police officers. And
just as far as six month review, I mean, takes over a year,
the stops are
up and running so.
So then, and then the funding goes houses funding for one year, police officer then less police officers or the sheriff's office takes over from there. So the way we find it that for years, we'll look at here to support that from here to the sheriff's office to continue funding to figure out what we were talking about how they can sustain,
are we just partial? I don't think those are conversations I could have. I don't think it is think you're expecting 6000 years
now. And I certainly hope that we're able to spread out those categories too, because that's taking on three or four buckets of work is a lot, but to be honest. But it's you know, it depends on what the region wants to see.
And that's something I think we need to think about supporting for as a, as a council, I was really kind of iffy on the requirements, six months of check in and kind of holding it and kind of holding it up there. Because it is, you know, some of them are, it's a lot easier to get that much data and get that presentation and do it twice a year. And so I just want to have a think about that as well going forward, whether that's something you want to valuate keep in place just as we think it's all set, it's Mr.
Chair is
less than a year, we got a leadership role bylaws, and money came up the two year plan learning together. And we were behind, and now looking at other counties who have all the counties and multiple agencies where we're actually
in a good spot. So I'm gonna keep us going. So program status report, Carol, was that you as well,
it is. Caitlin, if you could scroll down to the next attachment. Thing. Thank you. So this is a little bit of an expansion on the previous slide. And MJ, I have to apologize again that the title for your work is too short, and I will fix that next time. But basically, it again shows the section, the amount, the payee, and it also shows the council actions, like when everything was approved for each grantee, as the grantee contacts. And probably most importantly on the far right hand column is when those six month reports are due. So we'll probably have maybe a couple in August. So just kind of keeping that in mind as far as future planning. So that any questions about that
on this
when are you opening I guess, for lack of a better word, space for folks to submit that six month. It's due the eighth of August for us but but when can we get it to you
Did you hear that Carol?
Yeah. Anytime you'll see it tomorrow. If you could do six months worth of work and just a month or two, that's very impressive.
Any other questions, anything online that I'm
probably asked for that report, maybe a week before the meeting in the month so that that report can be part of the agenda packet. Haven't really thought out the whole process yet.
Carol, I do appreciate the format you put this in. This is wonderful for us to be able to monitor and then be strategic in the upcoming meetings, make sure everyone gets an opportunity to give their update. We don't want to do all updates in one meeting. That would be difficult. So thank you, Carol. Any other questions on program status report? Not seeing any, we'll move on. So every year at least there'll be the second annual conference, the Attorney General's Office puts together an opioid abatement Summit Conference. Several of us went last year it was at the Attorney General's office in Denver. I was able to attend both days. For solicitors there and others were there
as well lower.
So there's another one coming August 16, through the 18th in March froze. So remind me that they the state of Oregon is willing, but they're paying for some are. Okay, then I'm gonna stop talking. I'll turn it over to you.
I think it's all it's open the register, you can register, it's free. And members have
first priority. So if it fails, of course, make sure members of regional councils will be able to
attend. I think there's a virtual option.
Option. So I'm going
to come to the hotel. They're not coming.
That's a question. I had Carol. With our million dollars with the back cover for voting members to go to the conference and paid for like the hotel.
Yes, we have been informed that this is an acceptable use our administrative funds. So if anyone is attending in person, they would need to pay for their costs up front and then submit them to this Council for approval and reimbursement
rate. Working in non threatening America I'll pay for brown
bag I think what they're going to take the voting members first and and if there's open slots. Yes, he was highly attended last year. By absolutely they were able to get some some people in so we certainly folks can attack gasoline now for boys, Bimini and give
you a level both last year, but it wasn't until it was late. And I know Heidi has reached out to us so far, but hasn't really confirmed it. I have seen other counselors
and we make that decision and we vote to to provide funding for voting members who attended say like two or three that because the city will cover mine Hotel. I've already covered that.
So if that even works like that someone might Yeah, I'd love to see some of our advisory members attended.
I would think we have to be up to a certain limit, just like certainly something I believe Carolyn's is. That's appropriate.
I have not heard specifically whether the reimbursement would be limited to only voting members or whether others could go at the council expense. We might have to reach out to the state and ask them
Yeah, I'm sure you're
looking we'll do that. Let's try and see if we can reach out and see And then we can circle back to the email. That's something that's viable. We can definitely put it on tonight's agenda that gets assigned
space.
What they were aiming for was two to three people from each region. But I don't know, if there's a virtual option, I wouldn't think there would be a limit on that.
Okay, anything else regarding the summit, or conference? We also have here, region two rollout contracts update, Carol, is that we've already accomplished that, or is that something different?
I'm not totally sure what that is. I do have one more thing, though from from the region. The Attorney General's opiate Response Unit announced the draft reporting requirements for councils as well as for local governments that received direct allocation. So this would apply to both us and then like Larimer County and Fort Collins, and anyone else that also received a direct allocation. So what they're planning on asking us for, is to report each grantee and vendor that we've provided funds for the expenditure amount, the purpose and a description of each expenditure. And their plan is to put these on the coac website. The first report isn't due until March 15 2024, they wanted to make sure we had time to spend most of our first year funds before they asked for a report. They will not be asking for any performance data, because that is not covered by the MOU, which governs the council's. And they're also not asking for any specific data about how our grantees spent their funds. So for example, we would not have to provide the budget that CSU used to provide services, we just provide our expenditure to CSU. Based on what they've described, I don't see any issues with this council meeting those reporting requirements. And again, these requirements are both for us and for entities receiving direct allocation. And they are planning on having some training for everybody, once the the requirements are finalized. So I just wanted to make sure people knew about that, especially entities that get direct allocations. So that's all I had.
In that meeting with you, when they brought that up, they going to reach out to each entity to let them know about this information, or is that something that counsel had to let them know, I don't remember what that communication was the one to make sure that our our partners get that heads up or reinforcement, because the last time they needed all those things signed today that kind of adds everybody a few times. I was curious about that.
Yeah, I had that same question. So I reached out to them after the last webinar. And they said that they were planning on reaching out to everybody wants the requirements were set and that they had they had training established. I've gone ahead and sent what information I had to the Larimer County folks, and hopefully everyone else will hear about this directly from the Attorney General's response unit. But just a heads up to everybody. There are requirements. They're coming and we have till March 15th of 2024.
Any other questions or comments? David, I do see you now on Zoom. You may have been there but there was a we've had a conversation on the year two funding. I don't know if you have an updated number that you could share with us.
I could certainly go through and look real quick if I have an updated number didn't didn't hear that question. Apologize. I got on a minute or two after you started. So let me go look at that. And I'll jump on if I have the number for you.
I appreciate that. David, thank you. Anything else with our current one year program status report? All right. Let's see. Okay. Next one is local opioid summit have been lots of folks asking for, maybe they're really have their own local VOA so that we can members here and training and get people in the room and have conversations to talk about overdose and opioid. So we've been talking a little bit about that. And I went to my team, I have an Office of Communications and Technology. And it is one of our priorities at the health department, convening members looking at data and coming up with possible solutions regarding substance use abuse, opioid behavioral health. So my team said, Sure, that they will take the lead and make sure they've worked with all of your looking around the room, your contacts for something in September, which is opioid awareness report. One is in September, sometime I'm looking at you. Rationally, so I'm kind of framing and at that time, they're willing to take the lead, so we have somebody to take the lead, that'd be the health department, convening all of you and your partners. A cost rough estimate would be at the most 15,000. So what we're talking about is a half day Summit, that would be row x sanction this region to funding would be coming from the administration dollars, up to 15,000, my team thinks it'd be somewhere around eight to 10. But you never know what it's gonna cost. So that's on the table for discussion. That's something we wanted to go
into Michigan chair, if you and I had this conversation, because I had been talking about having been I've actually been starting those conversations with Attorney General for Weiser to come and being kind of this featured speaker and it's been it's been a lot of time in Jefferson County, a little Plata County on this. And so I kind of talked to him about it earlier. And he said, yeah, please reach out to us so we can kind of get on the calendar. And I think it'd be great to highlight especially on opening where overdose Awareness Day or in September and, and maybe doing our partner and stuff like For cons are willing to all this kind of doing a joint resolution and maybe raising more awareness and maybe even bringing, I don't know what it would look like, but I think it'd be a really good opportunity to help educate the public on what we're doing and how we're, how we're engaging folks and then they what we can do to kind of bring them public into this so we can train more people and make people more aware of the media that might be good chance for other elected officials to get some information, kind of they can be later. So I'm hoping that we'll look to support this and I'm sure that if we start talking now maybe see if the ranch has enough space in that, you know, be cheaper to kind of read space that we could get a discount, you know, multiple rooms and because the towels or mace if she wants to do it. So it's something we're going to do that to talk about today and decide so we can buy for looking for appropriate
facing enough
areas for breakouts or resource area for our partners and things like that. Yes,
my question is,
do we have like a stated objectives? So it sounds like maybe General General public awareness but
also making professional sharing data sharing
maybe for us what this group is, I mean, it just we probably need to figure out what our specific stated objective
it would be and then that way we know what we're focusing on.
Have you guys maybe I might have missed that that
was already talked about.
It was a general just awareness of where we're at data and then what what is the right doing? How can people also get involved in information can have exhibition folks sharing information art can those kinds of things but just making it an update Summit is what we're looking for cost wise if you go morons launching to just really do awareness and indeed showcase.
Fine, so I'm glad that you brought that up. Because I feel a part of so many summits where it It was under the tentative. So target audience I heard was
kind of like the general public.
It is so important. If you get those people there, the general public will want and having that strong message of awareness education, and those are the two things I heard. What else like preventing of something? Or what would make you want to come to something like that? If it's because I shaved my mouth?
Like, I think it's a phenomenal idea. It's an incredible way to not only educate and bring people working on this, from around the county together with the objective also right of reducing stigma around addiction.
Yes.
I think I think it's phenomenal. I would be very interested in reaching out here, Larimer County, Polk County Ikonics not arrested is the opposite ball area, I would love to reach out to their public information subcommittee, and perhaps have a presentation for the Public Information committee on this on what that avenue of recovery can look like. If we've got all these people together, that are interested in having a Recovery Center, I think it's crucial, specifically for people that care about and have those suffering from addiction in their lives, to educate them on what these pathways to recovery can be. So that when an addict is ready, the people closest to them, don't have no idea any, you know, I don't know their hands in the air, hey, we can do this, or this, this, right. Which I love the idea of faking it.
Ya, so wanted to give you a quick update. The settlement funds themselves if you remember when the initial distribution was going to happen. That was sort of a whirlwind at the end as they finalize the national settlements. And so those all came in right at the end, that's going to be similar for this one, but I can give you the numbers. And then we could sort of extrapolate what we think it might be. So if you recall, the original settlement, the region was going to receive over 18 years was $14.7 million. The new settlements will be 11, roughly 11 point 4 million over 14 years. So we will not quite double but sort of closed will be at 26 Point 1 million will be the new total for the region. And so I would expect those to be front loaded as well, until we get the final settlement numbers from these other entities. And we still have a couple of bankruptcies that we're we're going through, we just had to respond that well, by next week. We have to deal with those. So those are being finalized. But assuming they are I would expect to see similar numbers come in for next year. I wish I could give you our numbers for what each year would be. But if you look at what you thought next year would be and assume that it will be not quite doubled. But that's what the anticipation will be if the settlement goes through.
David, that's really exciting. Resources wise as a significant baby.
Oh, that's a great update. ask a clarifying question that you said 26 point 1 million over 14 years
that 26.1 will be paid out over 18 years. Yeah, the original 14.7 is over 18. The 11.4 will be over 14. So again, more of it will be paid earlier. It's just how they ended up structuring structuring those settlements. So it'll still be over 18. But that new 11.4 will have to be over 14 and both of them will be front loaded.
Thank you. Okay, one other question back to the
I was going to ask you, actually, how do you see this? Coordinating in with your efforts right to patients?
Yeah, that was my question actually for The Council, we have three overdose Awareness Day events coming for our county that are paid for out of these funds and matching fires one in Loveland Wilderness Park and one in Fort Collins, those throughout the weekend of August 26, and 27th. So that said we also have rethinking addiction, which is that provider education event known as scheduled for October 3. And so just looking at how those all stack up, how can we be together? So then a support advertising for each other? But also, where is there a duplication? Where were those questions for
booting from a guest that will be more do you with a summit being sometime in September when the work that you're doing? Can you see that in duplicative or would it be more complimentary?
I think that events that we've scheduled to have very clear purposes, for overdose Awareness Day, we are remembering those that we've lost, you're celebrating those in recovery. And we are considering community education, very high traffic areas, in Fort Collins remote towns in that similar structure. Yeah, yes. I think it's a foundry
by the theater.
Flat, it was tacos like that, that little square. And then Estes is in a very like public park. And so that event that seems very distinct from what you're describing, in that what you're describing is very remembering and celebrating, a reduction in the Rethinking addiction that is provider focused, and that is to talk about the practices, best practices we're seeing in our community and our community. But also, kind of that that education of awareness building around, we had actually talked about having folks that are funded from us Council present to work, that confidence, but if that is too far,
still have some of that work highlighted.
I just want to be thoughtful.
Thank you for clarifying that, presumably, your team would be a big part of that community. So we aren't we are it's complimentary.
And how can we advertise given that you want community that show up
to this relaxed, ad overdose Awareness Day, right, and this last one, that said, for my team to really be able to participate? I look them in September, to be honest, so we can get through those those events at the end of August, and then kind of have time to gear up for October. Just knowing what that looks like from
the target. It was Wednesday, September
16. And that's and then we get to that point, where is it weekend? You know, or is it weekday night, and then it's still myself? People want to get out of town to camp and get outside weekends? Or do we do if it's half day, it's during the day and people are working can come and so I don't know where it's what that is. But if we if we get away from Labor Day that might be
others thoughts on this? Brian, we'll make sure. Yes, there's
Yeah, no.
Yeah, actually, I would, I would agree with most of what MJ setup, you know, up to this point. I, I know me personally, what I would be trying to get out of such an event would be something that would be a little bit more kind of provider focused. That way we can kind of understand, you know, what the opioid Council can bring to our providers as far as funding and that sort of thing. I'd really like to understand what these organizations need as far as I go. So certainly, we want the community involvement. I, you know, obviously to be able to hear from folks that have gone through this type of thing and what, what we can do to better assist with that and whether that's on the provider side or what That's something we can, you know, do on the council's behalf. But however, those things type of kind of turnout. Yeah. Like, basically what I'd be, like I said, trying to do is get really understand from our providers, what is it that they need? And how can we deliver best for the community? So
Cindy, do you have any comments or making sure? You feel included?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm very similar to Brian, I would like to see more of the providers. You know, that that approach? I think, obviously, the community is important, but I don't want to forget our focus on the providers, because that's who is hopefully, you know, the seeing these people maybe recognizing more. So yeah, thank you. Communities? Yes, absolutely. Ever since their funds
is relatively limited, and maybe helpful to see where, how they're using their funds that leads to gaps. With funds coming in
the one discount? Okay.
Any other comments?
suggestion, leaving school, we could talk about trying to embed some of that structure in the rethink addiction events, if you're thinking it's provider focused. Similarly, we could embed some of that community focus in the overdose awareness device. We could do both. So venerate both pockets. Like we want to think about dance a little differently.
So overdose Awareness Day events are August 26, and 27th. And then October 3, is everything to kind of right in that same milieu of the time, but it's a lot to ask for providers to be three of those spaces, which ultimately would be asking because they show up to overdose Awareness Day to
Tuesday. No questions are bad for city council,
freshers and stuff.
So one idea with this committee duty, move on want to make sure we get a lot of time for our lived experience. Is there it could be because we do have an action item here to provide direction yet, yes. They want to have this in a team coordinated in some class, and then the team going and bringing back in June, ideas and all the planning back to the Council for kind of, you know, that could be one idea of so it's getting the team going starting to think if ensure its stigma, recovery, education, provider access, and all that, and then come back with kind of a skeleton plan of what. And we also are going to invite Attorney General Phil Weiser.
Yeah. But I need to I need to kind of have an idea, a date, I can't just say, you know, which happens to me all the time, like, hey, the government wants to see you down and 12 hours a day have a temper. And I you know, that's really hard to do so, especially with his schedule. So be nice to
do that. I think it's really good to get it if that's what the council desires to hold this committee going select a date, come back from starting by September, unfortunately. A little bit to
push right now that I moved the the region to vaping the council approves going forward with a open summit this fall and to have a group subcommittee group come together they kind of start putting some structure to this and then report back to the full council. As well as well, just to prove that we were going to move forward with some kind of Summit and details to come.
Did you want to include the costs up to so much
up to $10,000?
Your friendly friendly amendment to go out to her team since that was
potential I'll be more than happy to give money to the team just in case because cost certainly. And I would just I just didn't have a certain mindset right now with all this stuff happening in the States.
Did you capture that so we can read that ocean back please. So we will if there's a second for this one Yes, please just make sure it's a motion to
approve the council supporting the local opioid summit and bringing together our subcommittee together and for us will occur with costs limited up to 15,000.
That's a motion from Commissioner, is there a second? Second? Second. All right, any further conversation?
I think that would include the option to potentially just not do one individual day but separated out between two other
as well, I just kind of left it at that pretty purposely vague, just silly little. But I would encourage us to as soon as possible, without a doubt or with
any other if we're okay, all those in favor of the motion? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Thank you, motion passes. All right. Moving along to community and lived experience, the better four year to plan, this is really the kickoff what we're talking about looking at year two, just with considerable faith, considerable more money than we thought, which is exciting. So I think it's best, we start talking now. We are planning for your to we've we've taken a lot of considerations or more strategic time. So with that, we've sent for questions to our three Olympics training, advisory members. And we really want to hear from come and take the next 40 minutes to really here document this and learn from it. So build on for June. So, Marshall, Shane, and am I missing someone out? And we don't have all three of you? I'm sorry. We'd like to. We'd like to go for
a blast.
Right? Yes.
What metrics and measures are important to the community that shouldn't be trapped in your
mind that some of those may be redundant, and especially those that work in clinical work? statistical areas, a lot of this has probably already been tracked by but I wasn't gonna guess what is being tracked and what isn't. So these are my thoughts. First and foremost, overdose 3000, pointing to under 9000 Cause overdoses in the United States of America. That's roughly 13 deaths and a half an adequate overdoses and guys doesn't have a chance to recover. And three, for a long time. tracking numbers on overdose rates, of course, overdose deaths here in the county overdoses treated right by healthcare professionals. And I think it could be important to know the difference between what's being treated by EMTs and what's being triggered by hospital staff. Right so we're looking at the efficacy of quickness, right and who's getting to an overdosing addict first. overdoses treated by community now, hundreds of programs, which we just started doing. beautiful story about. Overdose is being responded to buy the CO responder units throughout the county. And what percentage of those calls are directly related to overdose? That's important information for this committee. Since these funds are coming from opioids settlements, I think it would be important to see current data and then data from now that you know, literally County Sheriff's Department added these two co responder units seeing what are we actually reaching more addicts and crisis addicts in overdose? Second, would be tracking numbers of those who experience overdose and sobriety. How many of these of these people find their way into treatment or recover? How many overdoses have occurred before added fines are way into a pathway to treatment or recovery, right getting an understanding of that and through which channels so they find treatment or they find treatment through law enforcement and the judicial system. So, you know, subset of that the CO responder units, are they finding their way into treatment through community resource programs? Other pathways, but also pelvis, hips, etc. Are they finding, you know, covers that? What are the overdose rates of those participating in harm reduction programs, such as needle exchange programs like the MCAT? Are we seeing a reduction in addicts are overdosing? who are engaged in harm reduction programs? And are those resources reaching these addicts? Are we seeing less people dying? And what are the rates of those with opioid use disorder seeking treatment and getting clean? who participate in harm reduction programs? and, subsequently, what are those rates for those who have interacted with CO responder case, law enforcement with the MTDS possible stack, within the judicial system, whether that be drug court, parole, probation, or while incarcerated? And I really kind of focused a lot of that on overdose and overdose prevention, because that's the frontlines of this crisis, an addict that dies, is lost, right? I think all of those numbers, the clearer this council and the world at large can get on those, we start to get a much clearer picture on what's working in what's not. Right, and what's working best, and what's also working. But, you know, it's kind of to the side. And that I think, for us, it helps us really figure out where where's this money at best. And that ties into some of what I talk to community members about expectations segwaying into our next question. So I talked to quite a few community members in Fort Collins and Loveland, as well as my squats, wide swath of those in the recovery community of which I'm very involved. From the community at large, right, the number one thing? Well, there's kind of three that I heard over and over advocacy, how targeted are these funds? Right, are they going to the right places, and a big call for transparency? The data being easily accessible and available for the work this council is doing. And the fourth one that I heard from almost everyone as well as accessibility
Yeah. So what this council is funding, how accessible are these programs
of course, because of education, availability, all the things and then, you know, the talks I had was people in recover and I thought this muscle those conversations with with people, the people I'm in a recovery community with are all drugs, right? It doesn't matter from marijuana and alcohol on through defense all but I focused my conversations around this with those with lived experience with with opioid addiction. Because most of us, right that have found a way in recovery in the last 1015 years. These funds what they're coming from, like the prescription and over prescription of pharmaceuticals have played a part in most opioid addicts. I know whether directly or indirectly, where they were getting pills on the street from people who were over prescribed. And that's usually what has led to heroin. Right. Now, of course, I acknowledge. Personally, I missed the big one, which may not be surprising coming from a 12 step. Recovery Community is a man's. That's the expectation, right that these funds are being used to make amends for the harm that was caused. And the reason the signs are now being allocated to the public.
sitting here looking at cheese tomato, so I feel awkward bringing this one on but last law enforcement. Right? More funds going to treatment options for those incarcerated rather than law enforcement options on the streets, right. And as far as I was incarcerated, less of a focus on medically assisted treatment, and more focus on therapy based treatments, including, you know, better access to 12 Step fellowships and the like, for those inside, and I'll speak on that a little bit as we get to the second.
Higher quality court mandated treatment. I'll speak on that a little bit as we get to the next two questions too. But that seems to be shattered by by many in the recovery community. So perhaps better control, better qualifications, authentic monitoring of the quality of care in court order, through their the father contracted by the State County. And funding for transitional housing, solar litter lay analysis. There are a number of organizations doing really strong work in that area, locally and regionally, such as the Oxford house and others. And the availability of scholarships for people to get into this kind of transitional housing is a place where there's always
so on the funding for transitional housing, do you all find that there is availability, if there's enough housing,
like always be more, but by how much is ever enough, but Oxford housing is growing at a pretty good clip, here in Larimer County and Loveland and Fort Collins, like a new man's house was just opened in Loveland, a month ago with 10 beds, you know, and there's also that were to achieve having more benefits. These funds can also help them to start, it's probably the most established and organize for organization doing this. They're nationwide for a very long time. But there are others as well. And only because you called me out on this part of the reason I'm here I know I'm in complete agreement that using these funds for law enforcement. So you did not offend me at all. I'm on your page, I wouldn't mind it if it was mine
saying I appreciate one piece
because the person dies, but foreigners got a fatal Yeah. But my team is working like she's so mature fan and all the other chiefs. It's a national database where somebody is overdose in the ceiling, that the report that that we're trying to not make it an additional step on AMT, law enforcement, etc. But it will go into this database that we can pull that data down with local public health, and have that counter breakout EMT, hospital, etc. I think it's a fantastic idea to get it more even granular. So we will definitely the data piece of that we're working on that. Well, counties already working on that. So is Summit County. And it's very, it's counting how many people we are saving at button to understanding what it will work. So I appreciate that a little more to come on that. And have you asked me for questions.
So thank you for that. Thank you. Appreciate how
prepared you are.
And the second two questions, I've gotten a little more freestyle. You know, I didn't make any notes. Some of the programs or services that would have helped me during my lived experience. Do my best to be brief, when I first found my way into treatment, which is how I also discovered the existence of Narcotics Anonymous, a 12 step fellowship that resonated for me. I spent about six months, I had two relapses, they were one time back into meetings, doing my best to stay clean over about six months. So, at about six months in, I had to go and do six or seven months in Larimer County Jail, right for charges. probation, I had revoked cetera, et cetera. I wanted to learn my county jail. They had just be able to get to meetings, I was told I could get to meetings I could I could work on my recovery while I was incarcerated. over those six to seven months, I was only able to attend one of the that has to do with POD movement pride. In all of the logistics of the jailable, I was only able to get to one. That being said, I was high within an hour and a half of getting out of jail. And it was seven more years before I got clean. Right, which is a little over 3500. Some change days ago. And I got to clean.
The age and I, which is hospitals and institutions suddenly admitted and archives says who's responsible for bringing meetings in via walls right into jails and prisons. And just last week, meeting wasn't allowed to go in because the jail didn't have enough staff to facilitate that. So that is a place where I think funds available for this settlement could go to recovery specific staff within the hills. Right. And for us specifically Larimer county jail. And in more counselors, or therapists focused on those who enter jail and spend time incarcerated, and have opioid use disorder or headaches, right? It's a great place to detox. It's a jail is doing this job, it was contraband. Right. So that would have helped, right, having more access while on site. Other than that, you know, work MJ and their organization is doing this community organizations, right, that that are not law enforcement that are not court ordered, that are not drug court. More availability there, right. And of course, less than when I look back on my addiction, what kept me from recovery longest was I didn't believe I was an addict, because I wasn't using like this or I hadn't done that, that all these misconceptions about what addiction is, right. So everything we can do to break down stigma within the community. For those who are using for those who love people are using for parents, teachers, right. All the people, that people that are activists in the community, that's huge. Also, you know, I think more availability of harm reduction in needle exchanges, etc. I can I contracted hepatitis C strategies, you know, an uncommon story, you know. So, that also relates into the breaking down of statements, right. And accessibility and availability, where it's like, and I, I suffer from addiction, opioid use disorder, but I have stigmatized easily enough places where I can navigate this phase of all this, hopefully, someone safely or I might make it to the other side, and find my way to recovery. Because my experiences and you can't force around it. Right. And that's, that's experience and having sponsor does is it does dozens and dozens of men over the past eight years, right. The very few wind up sticking, but you keep them alive. They tend to make it back. Right. Last question, what didn't help me? I think I've kind of alluded to that, you know, I was tied up in the criminal justice system. I did go to hundreds, literally hundreds of court ordered rooms, therapy sessions. I never even got so far as to fully understand that Allison added role that they weren't effective. Right. And I think that's true for most people. In those settings. You're there because your probation officer parole officers mandating it. You're jumping through the hoops, and the funds aren't there for quality. There. None of my expense variance in the criminal justice system, or an 80 years on probation i That's why I went to treatment the first time, so you don't want to wind up in prison. But if I'm being honest, I stay high through about a solid years of probation, intensive supervised probation, all of it. None of the safeguards or control measures instituted there, kept me from doing what I felt I needed to do at that time as to how we can do better. And I guess, circling back to question number three, which has helped me that to me, right, I know that there are many, many paths to recovery. Falstaff recovery is what helped me was free, widely available, super accessible, right? There's a whole lot of other paths, we just need to people to know how to guide people there. You know, whether they're involved in the criminal justice system, or still, just as I'll take any questions, thanks for
sharing. So you take what do you think of our new facility? will be more accessible? Or do you think? I hope?
Not always portfolio, right. So we will see, you know,
a number of tourists.
We've been there. I have not eaten maanvi email, which was hilarious. Kelly behavioral service, as long as you canvass the cute, cute, cute, character, or calm. It's actually really clever, tiny houses as long as it's so cute care building. So because it's showing people or computers that it's like we're counting building built with local county, taxpayers money and services are contracted through some some some stone is contracted to provide the services. And we are currently still looking at other things. And we there will be the open house and public tours. And there are a few tours available. And we're just you know, we're trying to have them scheduled and stuff because we just have someone every day coming through it gets to be. I'm taking some state legislators through next week, we did not get our state grant the bureau before it. So a little prickly about that. And so let's try to take the appropriate people back through and make sure they understand do they say why? Long straight another day we can sit down
coffee with you want to make sure we get tired as exerted to any other questions for shame.
So you were suspended when you were on probation for three years? It didn't really help but what if you remember what was the moment where you said, Okay, I need to go into this 12 step recovery programs elicit certain like educational flyer that you saw, or what was it that caused you to know, you know, I
have been around recovery has been very clear to me that I had a drug problem for quite a long time. And I just reached a point of desperation or now I was homeless and had been for a couple of years. And I just couldn't take it. I needed to be over one way or another. And actually family reached back out to me was not done that a long time. And I got into a sober living facility where at least I had abandoned food. That was the White House. And when I was there, there were 47 other guys and that is less comfortable than jail. But it was my basic needs were met, I had shelter, I had food, I have water. I knew how to eat, I knew how to sleep. And that I think is what allowed me to start to get some traction. And I'll say this, it's not the probation didn't help me because I had a phenomenal probation officer. And I knew he had to have done that I was high in our meetings, right? I'm gonna forget his last name. I don't know if he's still there. Tracy quadriplegic chair, amazing guy. Amazing guy. His support like I think kept me alive through that right. Just didn't ever seem to bring up the UAE as a minister that were diluted. He had to know but he all he saw something in me and so he got me to throwing out the old paper. So
sorry, you can let me check from Sydney. But we do need you to 330 today. So
yeah, just make this quick. Shane, can you coming back to the staff? When you incarnate when you were incarcerated, you indicated because of lack of staff? Was it that that is directly affiliated with these meetings? Can you just, I just want to know, or just staff in general pervert prevented the ability to move throughout the jail and go to the meetings?
Well, yeah, thanks, Cindy, I'll try to be brief if it wasn't the staff prevented me from going is that because of the way the different pods are released at different times, I wasn't able to get and that's a result of not being enough staff to effectively move inmates through the jail to special programs, etc. And that that's what happened anecdotally, just last week, there wasn't enough staff to get the representatives were not as caught. It's not a misprint of the jail to hold the meeting, that certainly they're in Vegas excited to get to where they might have received, you know, a starting point for recovery. So lack of staff, not prevention by staff. shortage,
Marshal turnover.
All right. So metrics and measures. I, so I watched, unfortunately, I watched the booking report, every day, I see how many people are locked up for opiates than normal. And how many of them received treatment. And they actually received treatment, how many people in the medically assisted treatment program in jail, actually get out and receive treatment after that? I've seen a lot of my friends that have week in and out, and they keep going in and out. And instead of saying fentanyl trigger, when they get out to go right back to
the Run medically assisted treatment while they're in there. And then they get out they go
back to heroin and fentanyl. And they end up this one was statistics, because they didn't get the treatment they needed while they were in jail. So my metrics would be the individuals who are incarcerated and don't want to receive treatment while they're in jail, and after they get out of jail.
I can't really speak on the community's expectations, concerns that are funded. Me personally, I would like to see more treatment, or flows, substance abuse and deploy this problem or period.
So combining the substance abuse treatment with our treatment, arm or county behavioral health, that's only 64 times as high as 64 people go through in a month and a jail
for openings.
Way more than that. I mean, it doesn't, it makes a small dent, or it doesn't make a huge impact. So me personally, I think more treatment based stuff, stolen credit counseling, other treatments like that Oxford house, getting people where they can be stable, they can learn to start living again without those substances in their life. I got blessed I went to the halfway house from jail. And it helped me get my life back on track. Now run my own shot down here in Loveland and clean this over two years now. Without the stability of the accountability to support that I had the halfway house. Like I begged when I was on probation, because I was still I would use it to go to the halfway house and be like, Well, you can't because you have
to be smart to catch 17 felonies.
And it's got me foot in the halfway house for eight years, or nonresonant. Now I have no place and just having this ability, not accountability.
A case manager is a huge support to me
with a treatment every Thursday by choice now because it's the things that have helped me stay sober. So III personally like
and jays, around decision programming.
They all focus on fairness, astigmatism care, coordinating. What happens when somebody goes to MJ and they actually want to get clean, but there's not room anywhere for that. That's the biggest thing I ran into is like, I went to detox in Greeley and I had a detox there's nowhere for me to go The NSA caused me to relapse. But it didn't help me not to relapse. I got out of detox, I was clean for two or three days. And I went right back to use. I was living in a place where the drugs were prevalent. And I could go, let's detox we're back to my house. roommate was still using that has caused me to go back to that life. And Kevin someplace where they can have that civility as a for good treatment, good therapy, stuff like that is where my heart is for being able to track who's getting arrested. Unfortunately, because I see people get arrested
for like, four grams of fentanyl.
That's, that's a lot of fentanyl to kill a lot of people,
and they get it tomorrow. They get right back up,
they get a $200 bond,
they get a PR bond,
right back out. I can guarantee you I know where that people go. As soon as they get up. And think of friend up from jail. From state she ever has to met both like she got out and she's like, everyone, I was like your calmer State last week. Because my house is sober. You might Romeoville sober, like it's a good place for people to get on our feet able to get your child back. So it's a huge thing to keep dragging and feeding incarcerated, who's getting treatment? Or who's not getting
any questions proportional.
Or anywhere in this story, I was filling out what you were talking about. Having only misdemeanors not being able to get out last night. I knew where the story was gonna be for this.
So let me understand. You're in your situation right into the halfway house, because you did not have a felony. And they're there. Right now the polls, they passed a law last year in capital, I was down there and I spoke to start to look at allowing misdemeanors to get into the halfway house.
I was done when I spoke on that when I spoken on the fentanyl below spoken overdose prevention sites this year. So they'll pass it did not
do a phenomenal job. I watched you testify. And I appreciate you doing that because you did a great job. And that's something that that's a policy level change the minute it's something we need to maybe how else we can enforce that. We can't do that maybe the funds will redirect us policy by trying to get that person I think that did come out of one of our counting correctly. Because you testified through Google. You mean every house on? Yeah, this was in Japan this year. That builds run three days. Try that. Try it again. Maybe
thank you so much, Chris.
This is why I want to go first. I want to I don't want to cry. So I obviously want to like so I have to go fast. I mean, thank you so so much. I work for DHS for 13 years.
And that did not help.
And that's part of my trauma. So I forgive him for that. But Alex saved my life. My mom had it. They saved my life. Because they taught me how to live my life and my ethics. Real realize. And I say that because I didn't understand it. I didn't understand it. And we have lost two adult children. Is that a lie? And that's, that's why we think we're together. And he taught me how to understand an addict and to love them. And he's been sober 20 years this year. So from opioids and alcohol I'm an Al Anon member I was inducted into his home group of eight and so I'm an honorary member and guest And, boy, this is just such an honor for me to be here and to, to think about this stuff and shame touched on so many things that I had written down. But it's still a from my point of view as a parent, as a kid, almost some social worker. I'm a human developmentalist. I'm not a social worker, because when I went to school, we didn't have that title. So I really did think about tracking them. And that first question, and I picked out some positive outcomes that we need to look at to win this. The most exciting thing is having a database that can communicate with these agents. I mean, we wanted that in the services and the health department, I worked for the health department in the 90s. And we could never have a database to pull information on. Either the criminal justice system or the Health Department records or the child welfare records together, you know, they couldn't talk to each other. We couldn't do research on a family and to get the big picture. And then they hit a loss Kanban. And you know, how difficult that is? Trying to research who was had help who can get help for this family? This name sounds familiar, they're going from county to county, what services do they get? Well, they can't tell me that because I mean, it's just a nightmare. But if you've worked there long enough, you'd recognize teenagers. So I would love I wrote down that state of database, communication. You know, not just the negative stuff. But I guess the outcomes for our main facility, the positive stories that you shared about who was saved by all of us having Narcan, that's the first thing my husband asked is, How did that kid have Narcan with him? And I said, because we're making it available at these sites. And we're teaching them and he says, Oh, my God, that that's wonderful, because he carries that in his truck, when he's feeding people to have challenges in the hands that he keeps doing it. And then he'll hand about to just homeless, he calls on his teams, and give it to them. So they have it in their backpacks, because they don't know how to get in. So that was wonderful. I said, let's, let's show the community, what we're doing. And some of our transparency, I almost cried. Because we've never had transparency. It's all been frickin secrets. I would get in trouble at work for saying, why can't we talk about that, from one agency to the other? Oh, we don't want them to know that. DHS is in November, not honoring them. And we're, we're telling them that the stereotype is more important than the agencies involved with any move into recovery. I mean, I beat my head against that with my animals.
And so I couldn't even get the medical records and talk about it. Until after he was 10. So I mean, these things are just my passion. So transparency is so important to reduce the stigmas once tell them what we're doing. Let's tell them why. Let's rotate people through some of these agencies with law enforcement. Why isn't there enough staff, because the job is so dang hard, and we can't keep staff. Volunteers can't go to the jail like we used to do the meetings went down. It's too hard to even get into take meetings to them. Or help with that, you know, there's got to be money to help train us to get volunteers and I said respect and honest feedback for the family members and the loved ones because addicts do have one supportive person, a teenager, whoever it is a man or a woman, one supportive person. And then like when they get out of detox, when they get off the streets can make it a recovery, even if they have a relaxed one sort of person and you've searched out and counted You might have been a probation officer. But it's one person who believes in you. And they're gonna push family away. And they're gonna lie to their family and lead to their family. And they're gonna steal from her family and have their indicate their family. They really so I set a voice for family and friends. Nobody listened to me. I was educated on the subject I did, I took all the education I possibly could, and health care providers at the hospitals. The only people that would listen to me right now I'm impressed because they understood for my growth, I took my husband, groves Hey, listen to me. No one else. Listen to me, the police officers didn't. Because my children are adults. Right. So I couldn't, I couldn't be heard. One of my son's was on the site for after my overdose. He was a battered child, find his girlfriend, and they didn't believe they're my professor, and try to explain a minute. And I sat down on the floor at the door of his room, and I couldn't believe I refused. And so instead of calling the cops, I decided to listen to me and to the history of his life with this girl for three years. And after they saw his behavior when he was detoxing, finally. So health workers, police officers, the army doctors, you know, they didn't listen to family and friends, I'm sure. I'm not the only one. I understood the addict. They didn't pay only the length of a girlfriend or the whoever brought the person in him, I guess. And I heard that was very common. And by the time he was out of the hospital here, it was PVH. The nurses were apologizing to me and telling me that I had taught them how to understand the so that was, have helped.
So pleased to be heard, it was my number three hands in trying to go fast. No one was staying or sober persons when I did mentoring for youth. That was the big thing. We also started having a spiritual awakening as a part of the steps. So any 12 STEP program, it doesn't have to be God we don't have to call that spiritual person not but if you haven't read this cells. So a supporting person, you know, how can we foster that in agencies and with providers? I just always look at that and listen for that. In youth programs in 12 Step programs with doctors who believe in my stepdaughter had a liver and kidney that looked like she'd been drinking for 30 years the coroner stuff and she got into an accident on her Friday night. And she had tried to check herself into rehab three times and somebody would always come and get her out. You know, after she's sober up a couple of days. So enablers weren't letting her stay long enough to get her treatment. She had no social worker or advocate that understood the addiction so our community education is so important. educate those parents, those friends. Teachers she had none of that so the doctor in the ER when she sobered up, gave her five okay, look at them to actually what their faces
she called her dad on husband when she got home and said dad, I'm gonna go to jail. I've said yesterday why? She almost killed two people literally they didn't die. She took her to die cut him that night. She was kind of lose her license. Her car was totaled.
She never bought them. So the last sentence I read on here was full responsibility. Because responsibility is the priority. So the doctor gave her the vitamin. She was already an alcohol. I cancelled opioid nobody knew what that would do to her liver and kidneys. She couldn't metabolize. So everybody needs to be in this educational piece.
It's like the kids
Thank you for listening.
You free thank you so much, everyone.
You need to hear
the Thickburger appreciate that this is just the start for a year to learning and hearing. So in June we have our next meeting is June 22. And Calum, we are going to try to move back to the Fort Collins area. place here. We'll try to get that buttoned up here soon. So everybody has a calendar, the 22nd to be in the football area. It is past time, great meetings. I'll have a motion to adjourn.
I like to just future topics for next beam I just wanted to bring up real quick and over time it wasn't mentioned mentioned data. We don't have a website for we don't have a way to work we don't have a to do data collection and morass is data from these brands orient do is it right? We have the queen mapping we have the Behavioral Health website. So some just to think that we were we were going to collect this data from all of these folks get a report and what are we going to how are we going to analyze who's I mean we have some Ministry of services that you know we have compared to new data analysis people to kind of the same we don't have someone in council to do that is how are we going to evaluate the data and how are we going to report it out and what does that look like and we're gonna have a date a website we are in kind of when that cost and do something
I got ideas on how we can help so
certainly for Jim I'll make a motion to adjourn All right. All in favor great meme he wanted to share with
you guys to get out
of here there's a big difference
agencies are in
the would forever
part time exam I tried after working
out until into plastic
surgery
Cruz and
thank you for having me
Caitlin's.
was like it was doubled
trauma and then it doesn't actually it makes the person right it really touched my heart. I'll ask those questions about Korea. So for the ones that just totally focus on getting treatment
the first way in the country for women 90 day treatment program that we saw that yesterday is obviously the women's week women's health care. pletely just added in there, patient things, and so you know, we can get inside the jail. That's different. We have alternatives tentatively a weekend person enters jail.
