Opioid Settlement Funds

In 2021, Minnesota joined a $36 billion multistate settlement agreement with manufacturers and distributors of opioids. The settlement payments will be distributed over 18 years and payments are front-loaded. Minnesota is unique amongst other states in that the bulk of payments (75%) are going to local governments. The funds are restricted to an approved list of expenditures (evidence-based treatment and prevention activities).

In Fall 2023, under the recommendation of Faribault and Martin Counties’ Stronger Together Coalition, both the Faribault County and Martin County Board of Commissioners approved using opioid settlement funding to complete an assessment of resources, needs and community funding priorities related to the opioid settlement spending. This assessment helped inform decision-makers about the current Opioid use landscape within the community and helped to identify the evidence-based treatment and prevention activities that were most needed locally.

The assessment included:

A review of public data on opioid use and overdoses in both counties respectively, as well as services and supports available to residents
A survey of 140 community members in Martin Co and 151 in Faribault Co, who shared about funding priorities,
Two community meetings to learn about treatment and prevention resources related to opioids in both counties,
A focus group of community members with substance use disorder that live in Martin County, and
Key informant interviews with individuals who work locally with those with substance use disorder from both counties

Assessment data was presented to the Stronger Together Coalition in May 2024 where membership representing each respective county prioritized the top three strategies for each county based on assessment findings.

Faribault County Opioid Community Assessment Results

Martin County Opioid Community Assessment Results

Both the Faribault and Martin Counties' Board of Commissioners accepted the Stronger Together Coalition’s recommendation to establish a request for proposal process to award Opioid Settlement funds utilizing the following guidelines:

The review committee should NOT include any members directly submitting an RFP for funding to prevent conflict of interest.

Projects that aim to impact strategies prioritized by the Opioid assessment receive priority towards funding.
Funds are made available on reimbursement basis vs. providing a one-time frontloaded payment.
Projects are capped at $24,000 (anything over would require additional reporting requirements).
Funding is available annually and applicants can reapply for projects that demonstrate success in achieving outcomes.
Of the pot of funding available for community projects, 50% would be designated to projects aimed at prevention strategies and 50% would be designated at projects aimed at treatment strategies, per the assessment results.
Review committee recommendations are provided to the county board to make final funding decisions.
The County Board of Commissioners can bring special consideration projects to the review committee at their discretion.

Both County Boards designated Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties as the lead agency to oversee the grant process. The duties include: