Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

A. MOTION TO APPROVE grant agreement between Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and Broward County in the amount of $230,482 to provide peer mentoring services to non-fatal overdose patients receiving emergency services at North Broward Hospital District d/b/a Broward Health (Broward Health), effective from the date of execution through September 29, 2019, with three one-year renewal terms; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, that do not increase the total annual funding amount above $300,000; and authorize the County Administrator to take all necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement the agreement.

(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)

ACTION:  (T-11:36 AM)  Approved. 

VOTE: 9-0.  Commissioner Geller voted in the affirmative telephonically.

B. MOTION TO ADOPT budget Resolution No. 2019-244 within the BSO First Responders Opioid Grant Fund to appropriate revenue in the amount of $230,482, for peer mentoring services to non-fatal overdose patients receiving emergency services at Broward Health.

(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)

ACTION:  (T-11:36 AM)  Approved. 

VOTE: 9-0.  Commissioner Geller voted in the affirmative telephonically.

C. MOTION TO APPROVE four new full-time grant positions within the BSO First Responders Opioid Grant for Broward Addiction Recovery Division (BARC) to provide treatment for patients being discharged for non-fatal opioid overdoses to minimize the number of re-admissions and reduce overdose deaths.

(Transferred to the Consent Agenda.)

ACTION:  (T-11:36 AM)  Approved. 

VOTE: 9-0.  Commissioner Geller voted in the affirmative telephonically.

A. Agreements with external agencies are subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners (Commission).

B. In accordance with Section 129.06(2)(d), Florida Statutes, Board approval is required to provide for revenue.

C. Board approval is required for the creation of grant-funded positions.

A-B. Ensures funding for the provision of substance abuse services through BARC.

C. Provides for staffing to meet the need for increased services resulting from the opioid crisis.

None.

THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND BROWARD ADDICTION RECOVERY DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.

These actions support the Commission Value: "Approaching human services collaboratively and compassionately, with special emphasis on the most vulnerable" and Commission Goal: "Deliver evidence-based services to the public, and connect customers and their family members, to sustainable support, with special emphasis on financial support services." Funding will allow BARC to provide peer mentoring services to Broward County residents who have experienced a non-fatal overdose.

In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the national opioid crisis to be an epidemic and the Florida Governor officially declared the opioid epidemic to be a public health emergency in Florida. In 2018, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded $500,000 to BSO through a First Responders Opioid Grant. The grant agreement with BSO and the County provides funding to support four Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (“CPRS”) positions to be deployed at Broward Health facilities within Broward County to support patients being discharged after non-fatal opioid overdoses.

BARC is responsible for meeting the following program measurable objectives: engage 85% of the eligible patients in the emergency room and provide them with resources for treatment and recovery; provide education overdose prevention to 150 patients; re-engage 70% of the patients who dropped out of treatment after emergency room discharge, back into treatment through welfare visits; and reduce by the number of repeated overdoses resulting in emergency room visits by 25%.

The grant agreement is in BSO's format as BSO is the funder, thus BSO will sign following approval by the Commission. The grant agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney.

Jack Feinberg, Director, Broward Addiction Recovery Division, (954) 357-4830