Payne County Opioid Treatment Grant Serves 56 Clients in Second Quarter

The Payne County Community Treatment Grant program reports serving 56 opioid-dependent clients during its second quarter, more than doubling its initial target of 23 individuals. The program provides critical addiction treatment services through partnerships with the county jail, drug court, and the Iowa Tribe clinic.

Dee Miller, director of About Face Women's Program, presented the quarterly report to the Payne County Board of Commissioners during their March 10 meeting.

"During this quarter the Payne County Jail has administered Suboxone to 29 offenders. Payne County Drug Court has maintained services to 10 participants. The Iowa Tribe has begun to provide services to 17 opioid dependent Native Americans through their clinic," Miller told commissioners.

The program's expansion to include services through the Iowa Tribe represents a significant development in reaching underserved populations.

"We have increased service to Native American clients that receive services through the Iowa Tribe. This is a concentrated effort to continue to reach out," Miller said.

The grant, which provides funding for medication-assisted treatment using Suboxone, aims to address opioid dependency throughout Payne County. Suboxone contains buprenorphine and naloxone and helps reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms while blocking the effects of opioids.

Miller reports the program remains on track to meet its objectives and is operating within budget constraints despite the increased caseload.

"Our budget remains fixed, even as services and time input have increased," Miller explained. "Each provider has agreed to stay within the fixed hours to maintain the budget amount for the program."

The quarterly report indicates the program has not encountered significant challenges during this period. Miller notes that providers are preparing for potential increases in participation.

"During the next quarter as numbers of participants increase, all providers will determine how to continue to meet the quality of services with and for an increased caseload," she said.

The program maintains its original structure with no staff changes reported since its inception. Miller confirmed that "Payne County has maintained the initial providers that were assigned to this grant in its application."

Commissioner Seth Condley raised concerns about the format of invoices submitted with the quarterly report, requesting more detailed documentation from service providers.

"Could they be a little more detailed, like what it was or is that possible and like a letterhead from that actual who's doing for what we're supposed to be correcting," Condley asked. "I think we need hours."

Miller agreed to provide more comprehensive documentation moving forward, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper records while not disrupting the program's momentum.

"I can correct those however you all want," Miller said. "I don't want any confusion. We want it to flow. This has been an amazing opportunity for us to treat those people that are opioid dependent."

The commissioners voted unanimously to acknowledge the quarterly report as presented, with plans for Miller to meet with Commissioners Condley to establish clearer documentation procedures for future reports.

Looking ahead, the program plans to explore residential treatment referrals in the next quarter, potentially expanding the scope of services available to clients.

The Payne County Community Treatment Grant operates with a structured payment system that allows for adjustments based on actual services rendered.

"If the subcontractor does not perform as agreed the quarterly payment will be adjusted down to reflect the actual services rendered," Miller explained in the written report.

The first quarter of the program, which ran from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2024, served 29 individuals, including 19 intakes in the Payne County Jail and 10 enrolled in Payne County Drug Court. The second quarter, covering October 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, saw the addition of Iowa Tribe services and an increase to 56 total clients.

The grant provides funding through a structured system with quarterly payments of $74,993, totaling $149,986 for the first half of the program year.

Subcontractors include Dr. Linda Evans, the Payne County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Payne County Drug Court, and About Face Women's Program, Inc., each providing specialized services within the treatment framework.

The commissioners emphasized the importance of proper documentation and oversight while acknowledging the program's success in exceeding its initial goals for serving opioid-dependent individuals in Payne County.

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