Opioid settlement committee awards $144K to agencies in Jasper County

Four organizations in Jasper County that help individuals with substance use disorders were collectively awarded more than $144,000 by the county’s opioid settlement committee. The board of supervisors approved the appropriations in a 3-0 vote during their Nov. 18 meeting at the courthouse.

Becky Pryor, administrator of the Jasper County Health Department, gave a brief presentation about the organizations and the money they would be receiving.

Capstone Behavioral Healthcare was awarded $70,000 for justice-involved substance treatment and $150,000 for a new Intensive outpatient substance treatment program. Pryor noted this would be the last time the committee would fund Capstone’s justice-involved substance treatment going forward.

Clearview Recovery received $45,987 for a sewer-related infrastructure project at women’s treatment facility in Prairie City. Sheepgate was awarded $25,000 for a building project. Newton Church of The Way was given $3,478 for the books needed for a new celebrate recovery program.

In total, the opioid settlement committee received nine applications before the Oct. 31 deadline. The committee interviewed each applicant on Nov. 7 and then met last week to decide which projects would receive funds. Pryor said it was a hard decision because there was a lot of really good programs that applied.

Supervisor Brandon Talsma disclosed that he is a board member of Capstone and would be abstaining from the conversations related to the organization. He also abstained from voting on the two projects related to Capstone. Supervisor Thad Nearmyer, a committee member, said there was a lot of interest for funds.

“We weren’t able to fully fund every project … But there is definitely a lot of interest,” he said. “It’s a good thing to get this money out into the community.”