[Neighbors] FW: Correction-- BernCo News Release: Public Input Wanted on How Opioid Settlement Funds Should be Spent by Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque

Mon Jul 29 17:13:12 MDT 2024

Forwarded for your interest

From: BernCo Neighborhood Coordination [mailto:bernconeighborhoodcoordination at bernco.gov] 
Sent: Monday, July 29, 2024 5:00 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: FW: Correction-- BernCo News Release: Public Input Wanted on How Opioid Settlement Funds Should be Spent by Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque 

Correction highlighted below. Commissioner Barbara Baca represents district 1.

Immediate Release: July 29, 2024

Contact: Kristen Ferguson: 505-379-3455;  <mailto:khferguson at bernco.gov> khferguson at bernco.gov

Get Involved: Public Input Wanted on How Opioid Settlement Funds Should be Spent by Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque 

 Town hall scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Patrick J. Baca Library

[BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M.] – Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque, working with the public health organization Vital Strategies and locally-based SBS Evaluation & Program Development Specialists will gather public input for a strategic plan to use funds from opioid-related litigation settlements at a town hall meeting this week. This is the fourth town hall in a series of five.

The meeting, hosted by District 1 County Commissioner Barbara Baca and City Councilors Joaquin Baca and Louie Sanchez is scheduled for Wednesday, July 31 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Patrick J. Baca Library, 8081 Central Ave. NW Albuquerque, NM 87123.

The town hall is part of a  <https://www.bernco.gov/county-manager/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/new-BernCO-CABQ-OSF-community-outearch-one-pager.pdf> community engagement plan and a series of town halls where attendees can provide comments on the investment of the county’s and city’s settlement funds. At least one strategic planning meeting is being held in each of the five County Commission districts, as well as dedicated outreach to Native American communities. 

The key goals of the community meetings are to:

●        Gather community input, opinions, and ideas on how drug use and current responses to drug use, including programs, can be improved.

●        Foster community engagement, build relationships and learn from each other about the different ways communities, individuals, and families are affected by the overdose crisis.

●        Ensure that community members are part of the planning process to inform the development of a city and county strategic plan to reduce overdoses equitably and sustainably.

●        Create a report that summarizes the key themes from community feedback that can be shared with city and county leadership. 

To learn more about how to sign up, attend an upcoming meeting, and stay up to date on the strategic plan initiative, visit  <http://bernco.gov/opioidfunding> bernco.gov/opioidfunding. Input towards the strategic plan for settlement spending can also be submitted via email to  <mailto:abq.bernco.opioidsettlement at gmail.com> abq.bernco.opioidsettlement at gmail.com, a survey at  <https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/opioidsettlementopinion> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/opioidsettlementopinion or at 505-468-7412. 

States and local counties across the United States have already begun to receive payments as part of litigation settlements with major pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors for their role in the overdose crisis. To date, Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque have received approximately $23.1 million and $27.6 million, respectively. A resolution passed by both the County Commission and the City Council in October calls for the development of a strategic plan before any additional use of that funding and directs that the plan must be informed by community input. These settlement funds offer a significant opportunity for communities to combat the overdose crisis by driving investment toward evidence-based interventions that reduce overdose risk and improve health outcomes. 

In the news: 

 <https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/metro-officials-to-get-public-input-on-the-use-of-opioid-settlement-funds/> -Metro officials seek public input on the use of opioid settlement funds

- <https://www.kunm.org/albuquerque-bernalillo-opioid-settlement-funds-meeting-public-input> Community leaders advocate for urgent change in fighting opioid epidemic (kunm.org)

- <https://www.kunm.org/albuquerque-bernalillo-opioid-settlement-funds-public-input-second-town-hall> Community pushes for lawmakers to listen to experts and providers when crafting solutions to opioid crisis (kunm.org)

- <https://www.kunm.org/opioid-settlement-funds-meeting-bernalillo-albuquerque> Meetings will take community input on opioid funds (kunm.org)

- <https://www.krqe.com/news/community/county-city-officials-looking-for-community-input-on-opioid-settlement-funds/> Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque officials looking for community input on opioid settlement funds (krqe.com)

-  <https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/bernco-city-of-albuquerque-asking-for-input-on-how-to-spend-opioid-settlement-funding/> Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque asking for input on how to spend opioid settlement funding (krqe.com)

# # #

About Bernalillo County

Bernalillo County is 1,160 square miles and is New Mexico’s most populous county with more than 676,000 residents. Bernalillo County government provides a wide range of public services to residents who live in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras with approximately 106,000 residents living in unincorporated areas of the county. Bernalillo County employs approximately 2,500 people and has an annual operating budget, capital investments and other funds of more than $1 billion. Elected officials include five county commissioners, assessor, clerk, probate judge, sheriff and treasurer.

About the City of Albuquerque

The City of Albuquerque Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness strives to improve the quality of life for everyone in Albuquerque by supporting behavioral health, public health initiatives, affordable housing, and homeless services.   

About Vital Strategies 

Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. Our overdose prevention program works to strengthen and scale evidence-based, data-driven policies and interventions to create equitable and sustainable reductions in overdose deaths. Work across seven U.S. States is supported by funding from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Overdose Prevention Initiative, launched in 2018, and targeted investments from other partners. 

Learn more at  <https://www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/overdose-prevention/> https://www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/overdose-prevention/ <https://www.vitalstrategies.org/programs/overdose-prevention/>  

About SBS Evaluation & Program Development Specialists

SBS Evaluation & Program Development Specialists, LLC is a New Mexico based, woman-owned, evaluation, technical assistance and training organization with over 20 years in the field of prevention and treatment. A strategic partner to many Tribal entities, municipalities, state, federal and non-governmental organizations. They believe in the transformative power of data driven-decision-making and building local capacity. 

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