DECEMBER 13, 2023 - OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND BOARD HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization charged with statewide distribution of more than $800 million for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, held its public meeting on December 13, 2023, at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce offices in Columbus.
“This meeting closes the Foundation’s first full calendar year, one that was filled with months of diligent work by board members, Executive Director Nelson and the overall Foundation team to solidify the organizational structure and begin distributing settlement dollars for prevention, treatment and recovery across the state,” said Board Vice Chair Don Mason. “I know that everyone involved can look back to all we’ve accomplished in 2023 with a sense of fulfillment and ahead knowing we are well positioned to advance our mission in 2024.”
Expert Panel Update
The OneOhio Board received an update on the Expert Panel appointment process from the Expert Panel Selection Committee and Foundation staff. Following a review of recommended changes, the Board approved an updated Expert Panel Policy to better guide the group’s work moving forward.
The Board also voted to appoint four new members to the Expert Panel:
• Stefanie Robinson, a person in long-term recovery who specializes in recovery-oriented systems of care and peer support;
• Dr. Zili Sloboda, an expert in prevention and epidemiology who has worked at NIDA, the National Institute for Drug Abuse;
• Dr. Kim Sperber, an expert in the criminal justice system, with experience in implementation science and complex health program development; and,
• Dr. Christine Wilder, an addiction psychiatrist who has expertise in supporting pregnant / postpartum women and evaluation science.
With these appointments, the OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s Expert Panel now includes the following seven members:
The Board will be presented recommendations for the two remaining Expert Panel positions at a later date.
Settlement Payment Update
In November, the Foundation received a second payment from the Mallinckrodt bankruptcy (NOAT II) totaling ~$4.3 million, adding to the ~$3.6 million received in March 2023. The national administrator of this bankruptcy proceeding has not provided any projections on potential future disbursements.
2024 Public Board Meeting Calendar
As part of the Executive Committee’s report, the Board approved its 2024 meetings calendar. All board of directors meetings are open to the public and will continue to be held on the second Wednesday of the month, as follows:
• January 2024: No full board meeting; committee meetings only this month
• February 14, 2024
• March 13, 2024
• April 10, 2024
• May 8, 2024: Annual Meeting
• June 12, 2024
• July 10, 2024
• August 14, 2024
• September 11, 2024
• October 9, 2024
• November 6, 2024
• December 2024: Board recess
Other Actions
During the December meeting, Board members:
• Received a welcome and update from Vice Chairman Don Mason, who ran December’s meeting in Chairman Kidd’s absence.
• Honored Shelly Bornstein and her family, who lost their son and brother, Tyler, to an accidental overdose in 2014. Since Tyler’s death, the Bornsteins have operated Hope United, a nonprofit organization based in Summit County that provides peer recovery support and other services to more than 800 people each month.
• Heard a report from the Audit and Finance Committee and unanimously approved the 2024 Operating Budget and the 2024 Grant Budget.
• Heard a report from the Grant Oversight Committee on work underway and next steps related to the Foundation’s grantmaking process.
• Heard a report from Executive Director Nelson, as well as staff reports on the Foundation’s finances, regional activities, and strategic communication efforts.
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s next public board meeting will be held in Columbus at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 (location to be announced).
