Focus group meetings next step in Monroe County Opioid Community Assessment

MONROE COUNTY — Work continues on the 2024 Monroe County Opioid Community Assessment. This week, Monroe County administration is holding virtual focus group meetings.

The work is part of the national opioid settlement. Last fall, Monroe County announced it would receive $5.5 million over 18 years as part of the settlement. All the efforts aim to create a strategic plan to combat opioid abuse in the county. Some results from the assessment are expected in the fall.

Previous Coverage:Monroe County to receive $5.5 million from opioid settlement

So, far, some of the task force's efforts have included community workshops, online resources and a survey.

The virtual focus groups are composed of people personally involved in the opioid crisis, including medical staff and family and friends of those with opioid addictions. The groups are led by a Michigan State University technical advisory team. Participants are paid for their participation.

"The information collected from the focus groups will help leadership identify local needs, direct where funding will best meet needs and strengthen the community's understanding in order to better serve and meet the needs of our community," the task force said.

The survey was conducted in May.

“Previous data that was collected prior to the focus groups includes an online survey that was distributed to Monroe County residents from May 6-31. Over 500 Monroe County residents participated in the survey,” said Jason Berry, Monroe County Community Planning and Engagement director. “Currently, the data is being collected, recorded and assembled by the staff at MSU. The results of the community assessment are expected to be presented to Monroe County administration in fall of 2024."

The Monroe County administration is leading the opioid plan and the use of opioid settlement funds.

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"Monroe County’s current community assessment on the opioid crisis is being done in collaboration with technical advisory faculty at Michigan State University, a technical advisor to local leadership. The project is funded by a grant from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from state opioid settlement funds. The community assessment is part of a broad strategy by Monroe County to address the opioid epidemic. Faculty at Wayne State University also serve as technical advisors to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy. The evaluation results will be used to inform and update the county’s current strategic plan, which guides future payments of the Opioid Settlement Funds," Berry said.

Monroe County's current plan and information on the plan are available on the county’s website at: co.monroe.mi.us/854/Monroe-County-Opioid-Settlement-Informat.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler atswisler@monroenews.com.