Cumberland County on track to approve two new opioid early intervention programs

The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners is on track to approve two new early intervention programs aimed at youth affected by opioid abuse. 

During the board’s agenda session Thursday, commissioners unanimously approved placing a $500,000 proposal for the two programs on the May 20 consent agenda. The programs will be funded with money from the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund, which will provide Cumberland County with $30.8 million over the next 18 years.

According to Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Green, Camp Rockfish and Retreat, a Christian camp with 486 acres of land “at the intersection of Hoke, Cumberland and Robeson counties,” would receive $97,149. That money would fund a summer camp for children experiencing substance abuse, mental health struggles or other childhood challenges, Green said. 

“Youth will receive naloxone training, substance use prevention training, and mindfulness training in a fun environment,” a proposed resolution in support of the program states. “Evidence-based support will be provided to the parents of these youth.” 

Camp Rockfish will also host Saturday events for families to encourage “parent engagement and education,” Green said.

Green told commissioners Camp Rockfish anticipates 40 to 50 children would attend  each Saturday event and about 100 children would attend the two-week summer camp. The summer camp will initially be offered solely to attendees of two schools in the Cumberland County Schools South View district, Green said, though Camp Rockfish hopes to later expand that.

The remaining $350,000 would go to the Mid-Carolina Regional Council, which encompasses Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson counties. The council plans to use the money for programming supporting caregivers of children affected by opioid use, offering resources like naloxone education, parenting skills classes and a peer support specialist, Green said.

The success of the programs would be measured through a variety of metrics, including: 

• The number of participants 
• The number of peer-based training programs held 
• The number of early intervention programs held 
• The percentage of participants facing short-term suspensions
• The number of participants who report using their training

In other business:

• The board unanimously approved placing a contract with Wilmington-based architectural firm LS3P to design its Homeless Support Center on its May 20 consent agenda. 
• The board unanimously approved placing a rate increase for the Kelly Hills/Slocumb Road sanitary sewer system on its May 20 consent agenda. The system’s operational and maintenance fee would increase to $7.99 from $6.95 and its flat rate charge would increase to $57.91 from $50.36 starting July 1, according to an April 30 memorandum from Director of Engineering and Infrastructure Jermaine Walker. The system would also see a 5% increase in those rates each year for the next three years, Walker said.
• The board unanimously approved placing rate increases for the Southpoint Water System and the Gray’s Creek Water and Sewer District on its May 20 consent agenda. The systems’ operational and maintenance fee would rise to $3.32 from $2.89 and water usage charge for up to 2,000 gallons would rise to $15.31 minimum from $13.31 minimum starting July 1, Walker said. The system would also see a 5% increase in those rates each year for the next three years.

Commissioner Jeannette Council was not present at Thursday’s meeting. The board went into closed session for nine minutes to discuss two contracts. No action was taken after commissioners returned.

The board will next meet at 6:45 p.m. May 20 at the Cumberland County Courthouse.

Reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at lsolomon@cityviewnc.com or 910-423-6500.

This story was made possible by contributions to CityView News Fund, a 501c3 charitable organization committed to an informed democracy.