HomeMy WebLinkAboutKittitas County Jail Opioid Settlement Funding Staff ReportPage 1 of 2
KITTITAS COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
STAFF REPORT FOR
STUDY SESSION
Public Health Office
STUDY SESSION DATE: 5/5/2026
TOPIC: Kittitas County Jail Opioid Settlement Funding
ACTION REQUESTED: Approval
LEAD STAFF: Kasey Knutson, Human Services Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the resolution for Kittitas County Jail funding request for $134,824.64 for opioid
settlement funding to begin upon approval through December 31 of 2027. This funding is
outside of the shared request for proposal (RFP) with the City of Ellensburg for the one-time
opioid abatement RFP.
BRIEFING SUMMARY:
• The activities presented by the Kittitas County Jail align with the One Washington MOU
Opioid Settlement allowed activities and the Kittitas County Community Health
Improvement Plan, specifically:
o Expand availability of treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and any co-
occurring Substance Use Disorder (SUD)/Mental Health (MH) conditions, co-
usage, and/or co-addiction, including all forms of Medication Assisted Treatment
approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
o Support detoxification and withdrawal management services for persons with
OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, co-usage, and/or co-addiction,
including medical detox, referral to treatment, or connections to other services or
supports.
o Support workforce development for addiction professionals who work with
persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, co-usage, and/or
co-addiction.
o Provide evidence-informed treatment, including MAT, recovery support, or other
appropriate services to individuals with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH
conditions, co-usage, and/or co-addiction who are incarcerated in jail or prison.
Provide training on best practices for addressing the needs of criminal-justice-
involved persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, co-
usage, and/or co-addiction to law enforcement, correctional, or judicial personnel
or to providers of treatment, recovery, case management, or other services
offered in connection with any of the strategies described in this section.
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o According to the Kittitas County Jail, from 2020 through September 2026 the jail
has been funded by the Department of Justice COSSAP/COSSUP
(Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program formally
COSSAP) to develop, implement, and evaluate the program while also using
additional funding from the Washington State Healthcare Authority
MOUD/MAUD (medications for alcohol use disorder) in jails. The COSSUP
funding is on track to be done at the end of September, and the Healthcare
funding has been lowered every year since it started (2022) and neither of them
appears to be a good option for sustained funding for the jail to continue this
programming that is much needed and utilized. (Additional narrative attached)
BACKGROUND:
Kittitas County began receiving Opioid Settlement funding in 2023. KCPHD’s Human Services
division has been tasked with administrative oversight of the funds and support to facilitate fund
distribution decision by the BOCC. KCPHD is authorized to retain 10% of funding actuals to
provide staff time for administrative activities, including RFP process, project eligibility
confirmation, data and reporting, financial tracking in partnership with the Auditor’s Office, and
coordination with the Greater Columbia regional Opioid Abatement Council (OAC). Kittitas
County is also obligated to reserve 10% of total funding to support the administrative activities of
the OAC. The OAC has committed to billing only actuals, and projects that costs will be
significantly less than 10%.
DISCUSSION:
On April 21, 2026, the BOCC provided direction to proceed with a resolution to use the
$134,824.64 opioid funding for the Kittitas County Jail.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
ATTACHMENTS:
Legal consultation? Yes 12428
Finance consulted? No