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ST. JOSEPH — Berrien County Commissioners received an update on how the county’s opioid settlement funds are being spent. Representatives of two of the entities reported on their efforts to address opioid addiction in the county over the last year.

      Berrien County is getting $8.2 million over 18 years from the nationwide opioid settlement reached more than a year ago. County officials have been working since then to set up the structure of how they plan to spend the money, determination of who gets the money and assessing the programs receiving the money.

      Two of the three entities receiving funding so far gave presentations to the county board Thursday. They were the First Church of God’s Restoration House Ministry and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office’s Medication Assisted Treatment Program.

      Restoration House Ministry Director P.J. Sando reported on the ministry’s work over the last year. The ministry has started a home for men dealing with opioid addiction in the St. Joseph area to meet the needs of men battling drug addiction and related issues.

      “I want to start off with a huge thank you to the county for funding our program,” Sando said. “… We hope to have more restoration houses, men need programs like this.”

      He said programs like Restoration House require the efforts of many partners to succeed. “It takes a village, I can’t do it on my own and the church can’t do it on their own,” he said. “These men need structure in their lives to change and succeed.”

      He said those they’ve partnered with include Riverwood, Kinexus, the Equal Opportunity Center, the YMCA, Intercare and Corewell and the Berrien County Jail. Measurable outcomes so far include the house being at capacity with a waiting list, only one positive drug or alcohol test out of over 150 done and over 104 hours of community service completed.

      He said a typical day includes house residents spending time in study and group therapy, going to the gym, doing volunteer work, taking classes in financial literacy and job training and attending Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous.

      Their future goals include achieving accreditation for rehabilitative services which will give them access to more funding with grants and insurance as well as help them serve men better.

      Sheriff Chuck Heit gave an update on the jail’s Medication Assisted Treatment program. He said that the jail has been implementing the program for a little over a year and seen good results.

      He noted that about a quarter of the jail population nationwide has opioid use disorder and that medication assisted treatment is the standard of care for treating those with that disorder. Successful treatment results in less recidivism with less people re-offending and a reduction in overall crime.

      He said that those who receive treatment while they’re in jail are more likely to continue to get treatment after they’re released. He added that the jail works with other entities out in the community to help those released from jail to continue on their recovery journey.

      He provided statistics showing the number of people screened and assessed, the medications given, the individual treatment plans developed and continuity of care and discharge planning.

      His goals for the future include continuing to get the funding needed to continue the program and expand options for inmates by partnering with others in the community.

      “This news is a bit of sunshine, we look forward to hearing more about it,” County Board Chairman McKinley Elliott said. “… I want to commend the board for allowing three members to serve. That gives us eyes and ears on the process and the capacity to engage in real time with all the players. I’m glad we’re doing this.”

      County Administrator Brian Dissette thanked County Commissioners Teri Freehling, Julie Wuerfel and Mamie Yarbrough for their involvement in the review process for the distribution of opioid settlement funds. He added that the work Berrien County is doing has been used as a model statewide by the Michigan Association of Counties.

      “They’re pointing to the process we’re using to select vendors, how we’re holding them accountable and how we’re being strategic in spending down funds,” he said. “That is something you should be proud of, it’s been really good work that has gone into this.”

      He told commissioners that there’s more work to be done as the county continues to spend down the opioid settlement funds received.