Rutherford County - TN (08/08/2023) The Rutherford Opioid Board (ROB) awarded funds to seven organizations that support and provide services to combat the opioid epidemic within Rutherford County, TN. The funds are a part of the $26 billion National Opioid Settlement.

The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County, Inc. was awarded $65,000 to aid their efforts of providing in-home services to drug endangered children. The mission of this organization is to provide in-home services that include alcohol and drug education, relapse prevention, anger management, stress management, and parenting skills.

H.U.S.T.L.E. (How You Survive This Life Everyday) Recovery was awarded $40,000 to provide respite care to individuals while they seek recovery services. Respite care would allow individuals to stay in an immediate, safe, homelike setting for a short period of time while they wait for transportation to treatment programs. The mission of this organization is to navigate and provide a safe environment where individuals can grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally with the support of others.

Interfaith Dental of Rutherford County was awarded $24,500 to provide dental services for individuals that allow screening and educating people around substance abuse disorder. Their mission is to improve and protect the health of those experiencing poverty.

Kymari House was awarded $15,000 to help expenses for individuals in treatment programs who require supervised visitation with their children. The organization offers supervised visitation in a home like environment for parents that require supervision and support during parenting time with their children.

Doors of Hope was awarded $144,340 to fund salaries for 3 positions.

Rutherford County Probation Department was awarded $81,685.27 to fund a Probation Counselor position.
Middle Tennessee State University was awarded $100,000 to create the “Office for Prevention Science and Recovery” and to assist the county in reviewing and approving applications for the further disbursement of Opioid Abatement funds to external organizations.

Organizations must provide and present quarterly reports to ROB from the date of funding to show how funds were used.

ROB is comprised of Commissioner Craig Harris, Chairman, Commissioners Robert Peay, Jr. and Pettus Read, Superintendent of the Rutherford County Correctional Work Center, William C Cope, Director of Rutherford County Probation and Recovery Services, Alissa Phillips, Assistant Director Metropolitan
Government of Nashville and Davidson County Trish Breeding, and Recovery Court Case Manager Supervisor Lori Flippo.

The committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am in room 205 of the historic Rutherford County Courthouse.

More information about ROB can be found at https://realdrugstories.org/.