Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has signed an Executive Order creating an Opioid Collaborative Community Council.
The Community Council will assist in determining priorities for how Howard County should use funds received through a National Settlement Agreement with opioid manufacturers and any future settlements. The Council is charged with making recommendations to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget on or before June 30, 2023, with final findings made on or before July 31, 2024.
“Opioid manufacturers created a public health crisis that led to hundreds of fatal and non-fatal overdoes in Howard County. Their product was a scourge on our community. Now that we have begun to receive money as part of our settlement with some opioid manufacturers, it’s important that our community has input into how those funds can best be used to prevent future Opioid misuse,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in a press release.
View the video of the announcement below:
- Barbara Allen, James’ Place Inc. (Chair)
- Quinton Askew, 211MD
- Robin Bartko, Coach/Community Advocate
- Sarah Blankenship, Maryland Coalition of Families
- Mark Donovan, Congruent Counseling
- Joanie Elder, Donleigh House
- Beth Harbinson, Family Advocate/SOBAR
- Sean Hughes, Attorney/Community Advocate
- Mimi Matthews, Clergy
- Jack Matthews, Peer Recovery Specialist
- Sarah McCoy, Grassroots
- Debbie Nix, Parent Advocate
- Teron Powell, Silverman Treatment Solutions
- Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC Drug Free
- Theresa Thomas, Hilda’s Place
- Cindy Johnson, Community Representative
- John Way, Veteran’s Advocate
