Subject:
Title
Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board 2026-2027 Priority List recommendations for the Board of County Commissioners approval for submission to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the recommended Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board (OAFAB) 2026-2027 Priority List (Priority List) for submission to the Florida Department for Children and Families in compliance with the Interlocal Agreement Governing Use of Pinellas County Regional Opioid Settlement Funds (Interlocal).
• The Pinellas County Opioid Abatement Priority List is an annual requirement of the negotiated opioid litigation settlement. The OAFAB has identified the following Priority List:
1.) Community/Strategic Planning-Leadership, Planning & Coordination
2.) Evidenced Based Data Collection and Research Analyzing the Effectiveness of the Abatement Strategies within the State
3.) Expansion of Warm Hand-Off Programs and Recovery Services
4.) Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Distribution and Other Opioid Related Treatment
5.) Pregnant and Postpartum Women
6.) Expanding Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
• These OAFAB Priorities and the recommended project are aligned with the Approved Uses and Core Strategies under the Florida Plan.
• On February 26, 2026, OAFAB approved funding Operation PAR, Inc, the highest-ranking applicant under the Treatment and Recovery Services Solicitation, for a Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center that will provide same-day, walk-in behavioral health services, primary healthcare, MAT satellite services, and residential services for pregnant and post-partum women and their children, including those with substance use-related infections. The funding recommendation, along with the Services Agreement and Land Use Restriction Agreement is pending approval by the Board of County Commissioners on June 16, 2026.
• The Board of County Commissioners previously made decisions regarding opioid abatement funding including: 21-1230A Resolution to negotiate Florida Plan, 21-1282A Delegation to County Administrator for Interlocal establishing OAFAB, 22-0875A, and Annual Priority List under 23-0826A, 24-0836A and 25-0569A.
• There is no fiscal impact.Body
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Strategic Plan:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
2.2 Enhance community safety.
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
Summary
The Priority List will guide the competitive solicitation process for regional opioid settlement dollars, as outlined in the Interlocal Agreement. Recognizing the need to expand cooccurring diagnosis wraparound recovery services and treatment capacity throughout Pinellas County and in alignment with the Approved Uses and Core Strategies, OAFAB has identified the following Priority List:
1. Community/Strategic Planning-Leadership, Planning & Coordination
2. Evidenced Based Data Collection and Research Analyzing the Effectiveness of the
Abatement Strategies within the State
3. Expansion of Warm Hand-Off Programs and Recovery Services
4. Medication Assisted Treatment “MAT” Distribution and Other Opioid Related
Treatment
5. Pregnant and Postpartum Women
6. Expanding Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
On February 26, 2026, OAFAB approved funding Operation PAR, Inc, the highest-ranking applicant under the Treatment and Recovery Services Solicitation for a Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC) that will provide same-day, walk-in behavioral health services, primary healthcare, MAT satellite services, and residential services for pregnant and post-partum women and their children, including those with substance use-related infections. The funding recommendation, along with the Services Agreement and Land Use Restriction Agreement (LURA) is pending approval by the Board of County Commissioners on June 16, 2026.
The services to be provided by the BHUCC align with the priority Core Strategies and Approved Uses identified in the Priority List, including Expansion of Warm Handoff-Programs and Recovery Services; Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and other Opioid Related Treatment and services for Pregnant and Postpartum Women and are consistent with the Approved Uses and Core Strategies under the Florida Plan.
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Background Information:
The Pinellas County Opioid Abatement Priority List is an annual requirement of the negotiated opioid litigation settlement. The Interlocal establishes the OAFAB; provides for the OAFAB to consider the opioid related data, set priorities for funding, and after a competitive solicitation by the County, recommends funding recipients and programming to the Board. Funded programs and services must align with the approved uses and core strategies outlined in the Interlocal. The recommendations of the OAFAB can be overridden, if appropriate, by a super majority vote.
Under the Interlocal, Pinellas County is eligible for both County and Regional opioid settlement dollars. County settlement dollars have been distributed directly to Pinellas County and will be used to expand the current Pinellas Matters Program. The Regional Priority List will inform the use of regional settlement dollars.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
City of Clearwater
City of Pinellas Park
City of St. Petersburg
Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board
Florida Department of Health Pinellas County
Department of Children and Families
Attachments:
Regional Priority List