Between 2022 and 2040, states, counties and cities are expected to receive more than $50 billion from national opioid settlements. Effective investment of these funds relies on state-local coordination, communication and information sharing to align efforts, reduce duplication and target areas of greatest need.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) have developed a case studies report from five states – Colorado, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina and Virginia – showcasing successful state-local collaboration in opioid settlement administration.
NACo and NASHP identified intergovernmental coordination happening in these states across four strategic areas:
- Resource sharing: Initiatives supported by state authorities and county associations provide local decision-makers with resources and support for investing settlement funding in evidence-based programs.
- Funding alignment: Strategies developed at the state level encourage alignment of local spending with statewide priorities, maximizing the impact of local settlement investments and promoting collaboration across cities, states, and regions.
- Ongoing coordination: Initiatives developed by state authorities and county associations can promote coordination through forums for sharing best practices.
- Transparent decision-making: Consistent and transparent reporting of how opioid settlement funds are allocated is an important part of effective state-local coordination.
The newly published report provides a guide for counties to improve the effectiveness of opioid settlement funds through strategic collaboration. By implementing similar practices, counties can maximize the impact of the funds, ensuring they meet the specific needs of Kentucky’s communities.
Click here to view the full report, Promising Practices for Collaboration on State and Local Opioid Settlement Spending.
