12-09-2024 Meeting Minutes OSACMinutes Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee
Monday, December 9, 2024
Attendance: Janet Clayton, Chief David Hess, Kyle Smith, Ben Massey, Jenna Regan, Cathy
Waugh, Thom Schwalenberg, Carlton Paylor, Joyce Harper
Welcome
Review & Approval of 11.6.24 Minutes
Minutes were distributed via email prior to the meeting and available for review during the
meeting. Thom Schwalenberg made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; motion
was seconded by Carlton Paylor; motion passed.
Meeting Dates 2025
The committee will meet every other month on the first Monday of the month at 10:00 am at
Person County Health Department. The next meeting will be March 5, 2025. Janet Clayton will
send a calendar invitation to members, send the meeting schedule to Michele Solomon, Clerk
to the Board of Commissioners, and will update the webpage.
Funding Request - Recovery Support Services, Recovery Housing Support, & Evidence-Based
Addiction Treatment
Janet Clayton reviewed the process for requesting and approving funding and the current
budget:
■ McKinsey Funds $23,817.36
■ National Settlement (NS) Funds Received: $1,416,700.14
■ Spent/Allocated NS Funds: $707,517
Joyce Harper of Freedom House Recovery Center presented the funding request for startup
funding for a substance use halfway house that is nearing completion of renovations. She
explained the project proposal for the halfway house.
○ House will eight males over the age of 18 years old and one staff member.
○ Residents are in treatment, and staff is 24/7 in helping the men with recovery.
○ Individuals are allowed up to a 6-month stay; step down will be to an Oxford
House.
○ Time is managed and structured; passes are required to leave; goal is for
individuals to also secure full-time job.
○ House must be fully ready to operate before the application is submitted for
licensure from NCDHHS and for credentialing through Vaya. This includes staff.
This could be up to a 6-month process.
○ Priority will be given Person County residents, but residents outside of the
county may also be present and must be a Vaya client.
○ Construction is almost complete for the Main Street residence, and she is
hopeful to receive certificate of occupancy (COO) by the end of January pending
construction process.
○ The facility should be ready within 6-months. The worst-case scenario is that
this will be up to a 24-month process for all approvals and to be fully operational
including gaining clientele.
○ Funding request is to provide up-front funding for staff to be hired and trained.
○ Concerns were shared about approving funding for a project that is not fully
licensed and ready to operate.
○ Joyce shared the collaboration with NCDHHS and Vaya about licensure and
shared that she does not anticipate any issues with credentialing and licensing.
Vaya has given a letter of support for this project.
○ Credentialing is Vaya; licensing is NCDHHS.
○ Freedom House currently operates 5 houses in other locations that are
successful. Data was requested regarding the success rate.
○ Locations of other houses were shared with the committee.
○ Ms. Harper discussed credentials of the required staff, which includes must have
2 years of recovery (or exposure to recovery) and peer support qualifications.
○ 8 positions will be needed for full-time staff as outlined in the proposal.
A motion to table the request until the COO is obtained was made by Chief Hess and seconded
by Ben Massey. After additional discussion, the motion passed with 7 voting in favor with 1
voting in opposition.
Ms. Harper will keep Janet Clayton informed regarding the progress of obtaining the COO. If
the COO is obtained prior to the March 5th meeting, the committee will convene to discuss the
request.
The meeting was adjourned.