Morgan County Invests Settlement Fund in Recovery & Prevention – Building a comprehensive, evidence-guided response to prevention, treatment, and recovery
In Morgan County, opioid settlement funds are being used to build a health-focused continuum of prevention, treatment, and recovery services rooted in data, transparency, and community partnership. Local leaders have adopted a competitive grant process that prioritizes evidence-guided programming, strong accountability, and fair access for organizations serving residents across the county. This approach aligns with the State of Indiana’s recommendations for using national opioid settlement funds, which emphasize saving lives, using evidence to guide
spending, investing in youth, and committing to transparency.
Before making funding decisions, Morgan County conducted a county-wide Community Priorities Survey in July 2024 that was open to anyone who lived or worked in the county. Respondents identified increasing access to behavioral health services as the highest priority, including improving the mental health provider ratio and expanding access to care. These findings now guide how local opioid settlement dollars are invested across prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Through a competitive grant cycle, Morgan County funded 11 grantees for 2025–26, with investments intentionally split between adult recovery and youth-focused prevention. Five grantees, representing approximately $438,568, support recovery services and expand mental health care for adults, while six grantees, totaling about $215,015, focus on youth prevention, including behavioral health supports in schools. All funded programs implement evidence-guided strategies consistent with Exhibit E, ensuring alignment with best practices.
Morgan County’s inaugural opioid settlement grantees were recognized by the 20th U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams, at the July 2025 Better Communities Coalition Summit, highlighting the county’s leadership in data-driven, community-based responses to recovery and mental health promotion.
To ensure transparency and accountability, the county established a 13-member Local Opioid Settlement Funds (LOSF) Workgroup to oversee the process, evaluate proposals, and make funding recommendations. All funded programs participate in site visits, regular check-ins, and reporting requirements that track outcomes and financial accountability.
In 2026, Morgan County is building on this momentum through a new grant cycle that includes a formal collaboration with the Town of Mooresville, demonstrating a shared commitment to prevention, treatment, and recovery through sustained, systems-level change.