Orange County residents interested in serving on the county's recently created Opioid Advisory Committee must apply by Oct. 19. The committee will advise the Board of Commissioners on how to utilize the county’s share of national opioid settlement funds. Orange County is expected to receive $6,799,780 over the next 18 years.
The committee will discuss opioid-related health concerns and issues impacting Orange County residents, advise the BOCC on options to expend funds to prevent opioid use and remedy opioid impacts, and plan and host an annual meeting to receive input on proposed uses of settlement funds.
The BOCC approved a 19-member advisory committee at its Sept. 6 meeting. The committee includes representatives from the Orange County Sheriff, the Hillsborough, Carrboro and Chapel Hill police departments, Orange County schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools, UNC Hospital, Alliance Health and representatives from the following county departments: Social Services, Emergency Services, Criminal Justice Resource Department and Health.
In addition, several spots are open for county residents through an application process. Two spots will be for individuals with lived experience, along with a substance abuse treatment provider, a community group working on opioid-related concerns, an employment provider and two flex spots.
Applications are now being taken for the non-designated spots on the committee. The Board of Commissioners will review the applications at its Oct. 25 Work Session and will make appointments to the committee at its Nov. 1 Business Meeting.
For more information, contact Tara May at tmay@orangecountync.gov or (919) 245-2125.
- Click here for the link to the application.