Agreement approved for Family Care Ministries opioid fund disbursement

NEW CUMBERLAND - After months of debates and disagreements, a memorandum of understanding has been approved to allow a local organization to receive half-a-million dollars in opioid funding to support its substance use treatment programs.

Hancock County commissioners convened in their regular meeting Friday morning, voting 2-1 on the memorandum with Family Care Ministries.

Commissioner Tommy Ogden, who participated in Friday’s meeting by telephone, cast the lone dissenting vote.

Ogden, in particular, expressed concern over the potential of the $500,000 awarded to Family Care Ministries still being used for the construction of a residential building, as initially had been proposed, despite an amendment to the application approved by commissioners in October.

That amendment, at the request of Family Care President Josh Lytle, appeared to indicate the funding would go toward substance use avoidance and awareness education, substance use prevention programs, and support for recovery from addiction through the organization’s existing services.

Commission President Eron Chek, though, claimed the memorandum was not limiting in its scope for any construction.

"The MoU doesn’t prohibit a building," she said.

Ogden also expressed concern as to whether the funding would be provided in a lump sum or if Family Care Ministries would have to seek reimbursement from the commission.

"I feel like we’ve been more stringent with our oversight with our own emergency services and our department heads of our own, within our own county," Ogden said.

The memorandum, a copy of which was provided to The Herald Star, notes Family Care requested the funding be used for "substance use avoidance and awareness education through its residential training program," "substance use prevention via FCM’s programming," and "support for recovery from addiction through its faith-based, nonclinical residential program."

Under the memorandum, the funds are granted "with the condition that costs will be reimbursed as incurred with the presentation of valid receipts, invoices, work orders, or other acceptable documentation, or paid for by County check, purchasing card or other acceptable arrangement."

It stipulates Family Care Ministries will provide such documentation "no later than one month from the date of receipt." Any costs in excess of the approved funding will be covered by Family Care Ministries, with funding only used for programs described in its opioid funding application.

The memorandum also stipulates the organization will document the number of participants in its "residential, training, and substance use prevention programs," as well as outcome reports on a quarterly basis.

Unlike the agreements for all other opioid fund distributions by the county - which used the services of the Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office - commissioners voted in August to hire the Pittsburgh-based law firm of Tucker Arensberg in the development of this memorandum.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)