Press Release
For all Stark County residents concerned about local funding from the National Opioid settlements and how funds will be used to address this harrowing epidemic, Stark County is working with the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, an Ohio non-profit corporation that governs the State and various local governments’ use of the allocation of Ohio’s share of the opioid settlement proceeds. Ohio has been divided into 19 regions, with Stark County being named Region 6. Each region will create its own government structure and have the responsibility to make decisions that will allocate funds to projects that serve their needs. Fifty-five percent of the opioid settlements will be used to develop and oversee the funding that local communities need to address the opioid crisis. The Stark County Region 6 Opioid members per the by-laws are as follows:
-Frank Forchione – President, Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge
-Kristen Bates-Aylward – Secretary, City of Canton Council President Elect
-Kathy Catazaro-Perry – Mayor of Massillon
-Kyle Stone – Stark County Prosecutor
-Thomas Bernabei – Mayor, City of Canton
-Alan Andreani – Mayor, City of Alliance
-Keith Hochadel – Member of State Board
-John Aller – Executive Director, Stark MHAR
-John Arnold – Lake Township Trustee
-Dr. Ron Rusnak – Stark County Coroner
Payments will be paid over an 18 year period. It is expected in the next two years that Stark County will be receiving $1.6 million. The Board is hoping to be able to accept grant applications in late fall, with disbursements anticipated in early 2024.
The approved purposes for the grants are:
Evidence based, forward looking strategies, programming and services used to:
-Expand the availability of treatment for individuals affected by substance use disorder
-Develop, promote and provide evidence-based substance use prevention strategies
-Provide substance abuse avoidance and awareness
-Decrease the oversupply and licit and illicit opioids
-Support recover-from-addiction services performed by licensed professionals
In the spirit of transparency and to inform the public regarding grant funding and procedures, the local Board will be holding the following public forums:
1. Thursday, June 22, 2023 at noon at One Center for Leadership, 901 Tuscarawas Street E Canton, OH 44707
2. Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Giese Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mt. Union, 67 W. Simpson Street, Alliance, OH 44601
3. Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Center, 505 Erie Street N., Massillon, OH 44646
