WEIRTON — Northwood Health Systems will receive the latest allotment of opioid settlement funds from the City of Weirton, with an eye toward expansion of staffing and programs at the organization’s Weirton offices.

Weirton Council unanimously approved two resolutions Monday, providing funding for Northwood which provides services designed to assist those with substance abuse issues, along with programs for individuals with emotional problems, intellectual disabilities, and mental illness. Northwood’s Weirton offices, located at 353 American Way, offers a crisis stabilization unit and an outpatient clinic.

An allotment of $66,000 will fund the addition of a peer recovery support specialist for the Weirton Assertive Community Treatment Team, while an additional $82,964 will fund two years of wages and training for an outpatient peer recovery support services staff member.

City Manager Mike Adams called the application by Northwood “pretty good,” saying the plans outlined in the applications appeared to follow the criteria for the settlement funds.

“It’s very applicable to the core strategies of the memorandum of understanding for the opioid settlement,” Adams said.

Adams said plans would be for the funds to establish the positions at the Weirton offices, with Northwood able to fund them in continuance after they are up-and-running.

Adams noted Monday night the city still has $723,000 in opioid funding remaining, and is continuing to accept proposals.

“We do have some applications we’re considering,” Adams said, reminding those considering applying for funds that all proposals must meet standards established under the memorandum of understanding developed as part of West Virginia’s opioid settlement agreements.

The Northwood allocations are the third and fourth set of funds provided by Weirton Council.

Earlier this year, the Weirton Police Department received $211,654.85 for the purchase of two vehicles and equipment for use by the department’s K-9 division, as well as new street-based video systems and license plate reader systems. The Weirton Fire Department received $277,555.10 for the purchase of automated external defibrillators and a mechanical chest compression system, along with any related training.

Guidelines for use of the funds are established through the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding, tasking organizations awarded such grants to put them toward either education, emergency services, prevention, intervention, or rehabilitation in combating the opioid crisis.

To be eligible, an applicant must be either a tax-exempt non-profit entity or a government entity, have an established history of addressing the issues related to opioid use or have undertaken projects related to one of the five categories.

City officials also may consider whether the proposed use may be better handled by another entity, the applicant’s track record and history, whether the applicant has alternative funding sources for their proposal, whether it is a one-time award or an ongoing expense, the level of involvement for the city, existing funding of similar programs and the applicant’s anticipated outcome for its proposed program.

Successful applicants also must provide the city quarterly, written updates on their program and use of funds.

The city’s application includes nine questions, asking for an applicant’s name, address and contact information, organizational officers, a description of the project, a cost estimate, a listing of other funding sources, how much is being requested from the city and how it will be used if awarded, and whether additional support from the city will be needed.

Each application will be reviewed by the city manager, or a designee, with awards requiring approval from Weirton Council.