October 17, 2023 Minutes

Weld Regional Opioid Council Meeting

Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment, Room 103
1555 North 17th Avenue, Greeley CO 80631
October 17, 2023 @ 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Council Members in Attendance:  Eric Aakko – Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment; Kim Emil – Town of Windsor Government; Zo Hubbard – Town of Fort Lupton; Rick Brandt – Evans Police Department; Tom Nissen – Ault Police Department; Jamie Ulrich – Weld County Department of Human Services; Matt Turner – Weld County Sherriff’s Office; Michael Pirraglia – Weld County District Attorney’s Office

Non-Council Members in Attendance:  Holly Smith – Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment; Tanya Geiser – Weld County Department of Human Services; MJ Jorgensen – North Colorado Health Alliance; Erin Olson – Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment; Melanie Cyphers - Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment; Dana Johnson – North Range Behavioral Health; Elizabeth Pike – North Colorado Health Network; Dayna Deherrera-Smith – Front Range Clinic; Jenny Wallace – North Range Behavioral Health; Jennifer Mackender – Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention; Mike Knee – Weld County Sherriff’s Office; Erika Greenberg – Centennial Area Health Education Center; Libby McEvoy – Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment; Leslie Brooks – North Colorado Health Alliance

Minutes

1. Introductions
2. Review and Approve Minutes and Agenda
   • Tom Nissen motioned to approve the minutes of the 09/12/2023 meeting as well as the revised agenda (new order of events due to not having quorum from the start) for the 10/17/2023 meeting. Zo Hubbard seconded the motion. Minutes for 9/12/2023 meeting and the revised agenda for 10/17/2023 meeting were approved.
3. Evaluation and Data Update
   • Opioids & substance use data assessment by the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (see attached pdf). Main discussion points:
     • The number of fatal opioid overdoses in Weld County nearly doubled between 2020 & 2021 but decreased in 2022 following statewide trends.
     • 53 residents across Weld County died in 2022 from a drug overdose involving any opioid (illicit or prescription), a 22% decrease from 2021. Colorado is down 8% from 2021.
     • Opioid overdose death counts vary by age group. Most of the deaths are concentrated between the 15-44 years of age group in Weld County.
     • The age-adjusted death rate for Weld County in 2022 was over 2x higher among male residents compared to female residents. This gap was much larger in 2021.
     • In 2022, the age-adjusted opioid overdose death rate increased among Hispanic/Latina/o residents in Weld County. While the age-adjusted opioid overdose death rate grew the most among non-Hispanic and male residents between 2020 and 2021, the rate of overdose deaths decreased among non-Hispanic male and female residents in 2022.
     • The age-adjusted opioid overdose rate in Weld County is lower than the statewide rate and Adams County, but higher than nearby Larimer and Boulder counties.
     • In 2022 we saw over 60 Weld County residents visit an emergency department (ED) for an opioid related drug overdose, according to data from participating hospitals. Most of these visits occurred among adults 18- 44 years of age. Most patients were discharged from the ED within a couple hours.
     • ODMAP is a tool that WCDPHE was recently onboarded to. It provides near real time data and locations of suspected overdose cases. 12 law enforcement agencies in Weld County participate in ODMAP and submit data.
     • The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) is administered every two years to schools around Colorado and covers a variety of health topics, including substance use. Some of this data can be used for future education.
     • Key themes found through key informant interviews will also be used for assessment.
     • Populations to consider: focus on young adult AND middle adult age group between 15-44 years. Consider focus on male residents. Consider focus on Hispanic/Latina/o residents due to growth in overdose death rate. Consider focus on Greeley and I-25 Corridor.
     • Next steps: aggregate data, talk to partners and community members, identify possible areas of focus, and identify strategies for areas of focus.
   • Request was made for more data specific to South County. Per Libby, this information is limited by CDPHE, however, she will try to put together a high-level summary for South County data.
4. Review and Vote on Submitted Request for Proposals (RFPs)
   • Review of RFPs – Little over $2 million total in requests.
     • Ault Police Department – This proposal would be to purchase/train a working K-9, specifically one that is trained in narcotics detection which includes opioids. The purpose would be to have the dog and handler do multiple demonstrations and trainings at local schools. The dog would also be used on traffic stops, mainly along the Highway 85 corridor. The cost would include the dog itself as well as some staff time. Amount requested is $25,000.
       • Kim Emil motioned to approve this request. Motion was seconded by Matt Turner. Request approved.
     • Community Grief Center – This proposal is specifically focused on individuals and families who have experienced the death of a loved one to the opioid crisis. The funding will be used to develop a group specifically focused on these clients. Expenditures would be for the staff to conduct these sessions. Amount requested is $25,000.
       • The ‘floor’ established by the Council was $30,000. Zo Hubbard motioned to raise the amount for this proposal to $30,000 and to approve this request. Motion was seconded by Tom Nissen. Request approved.
     • Denver Recovery Group – This request is for Denver Recovery Group (DRG) to open a clinic/opioid treatment program (OTP) in the city of Evans. DRG has located a facility in Evans appropriate for care but needs financial support to build out the clinic itself to meet licensing requirements and expand services. Requesting funds to open and outfit the clinic and cover staffing positions necessary to achieve the new opioid treatment program. Amount requested is $225,543.
       • Council discussed that this would be better referred to COAG since they fund infrastructure requests. Kim Emil motioned to deny this request. Motion was seconded by Matt Turner. Request denied.
     • Dispose Rx – Dispose Rx proposes to deliver a unified prescription drug prevention and education program to all Weld County households. This program focuses on family-directed medication safety education and includes two Dispose Rx in-home drug disposal packets with the goal of decreasing access to unused medication. Money would be used for postage, staffing, and disposal of the kits. Amount requested is $705,914.16.
       • Council discussed that the State already has a program similar to this. Matt Turner motioned to deny this request. Motion was seconded by Tom Nissen. Request denied.
     • North Colorado Health Alliance – The requested 2024 budget revision would allow NCHA to increase care coordination staffing with two new FTE to better support Weld County, supplement the costs of our existing Overdose Prevention Coordinator who’s grant recently ended, provide increased client assistance funding to support jail based in reach appointments, basic needs (like transportation, sober living costs, etc.) and the costs of mileage and indirect at 10%. Would only want to pursue the increased 2.0 FTE Care Coordination staff if their employment could continue through 2024. Amount requested is $385,562.14.
       • Zo Hubbard motioned to approve this request. Motion was seconded by Kim Emil. Request approved.
     • North Colorado Health Network – This proposal aims to address the existing barriers to behavioral health and healthcare services, including substance use disorder treatment for individuals who use drugs in Weld County. Northern Colorado Health Network’s Access Point program, located in Greeley, is dedicated to incorporating harm reduction services, such as syringe access, overdose prevention, HIV/HCV/STI testing, outreach, education, and individual-level risk reduction counseling for individuals who use drugs. Furthermore, NCHN provides a social support and facilitates healthcare referrals. The existing harm reduction program within NCHN will play a pivotal role in effectively connecting people to care by having social workers readily available for immediate assistance. Amount requested is $245,000.
       • Zo Hubbard motioned to approve this request. Motion was seconded by Tom Nissen. Request approved.
     • North Range Behavioral Health – 3 separate requests. The first is to add another clinical person to Squad 1, which is a collaborative effort between North Range Behavioral Health, North Colorado Health Alliance, and the Greeley Fire Department. Amount requested is $85,000. Second request is for full funding of the medically enhanced Withdrawal Management Program. Last year, the Opioid Council agreed to fund half the cost of transitioning the social model detox to a medically monitored withdrawal management program. This would allow for acceptance of people with more complicated withdrawal symptoms and allow the ability to complete admits faster. Amount requested is $90,000. Third request is funding for a Youth Opioid Support Team. This team would support youth and their families who are struggling with opioid use disorders. The team would create individualized treatment plans which could include MAT for youth, as well as home/community-based monitoring and support for the individual and their family. Amount requested is $195,000.
       • Zo Hubbard motioned to combine all requests (for a total of $370,000) and approve. Motion was seconded by Matt Turner. All 3 requests approved.
     • St. Maximillian Transportation – This is a new program that would provide non-emergency transportation service for people suffering from opioid use disorder, other opioid related diagnosis, or all related or dual diagnosed individuals. The exclusive focus will be on people in recovery.
       • Council discussed that there is some concern that this is not an established program and would want more information before moving forward. Zo Hubbard motioned to deny this request. Motion was seconded by Matt Turner. Request denied.
5. Finalize Budget
   • NCHA proposed budget revision to move some funds around that were supposed to be used for staffing. Personnel costs were underspent, so revision would allow increase to client assistance funding. Main intention would be to support jail in reach. Allow for clients who are in the jail to connect with care coordinators and complete their initial appointment while still there. This is a non-billable service, so support is needed. Staff mileage would also be supported by these funds. Request to move some funds over to what will support 2024 requests as well. Currently have an Overdose Prevention Coordinator who the grant ended for – request for council to move some funds to support her FTE. For 2024 going to make a request to increase FTE to support some additional space in Weld County – only want to do that if they can be supported for more than one year.
     • Zo Hubbard motioned to approve revision for 2023 budget for NCHA. Tom Nissen seconded the motion.
     • Tanya will add up the amount of approved requests to add to budget. Any current recipients are asked to provide any adjustments that may be needed for their funds to Tanya so the budget can be finalized. Drafted budget will be sent out via email to voting members to approve by the November 15th deadline. Can then see where we are at with everything at the January meeting.
6. Adjourn
   • Motion by Tom Nissen to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Matt Turner. Meeting adjourned at 10:03am.

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 9:00am at the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment and available virtually through Microsoft Teams.