July 12, 2023 Recap: Opioid Settlement Fund Board Holds Public Meeting
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization charged with distributing nearly $1 billion for addiction prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, held its July Board meeting at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce offices in Columbus. The Board of Directors approved key actions and received important updates on the grant making and audit processes, all of which move the organization forward in its mission to help end the opioid epidemic in Ohio.
“With the settlement funds now coming in, we are preparing to enter the heart of our mission – working with the 19 regions and Ohio’s prevention, treatment and recovery community to distribute settlement funds and save lives,” said Board Chair Larry Kidd. “I’m proud of the work we have accomplished thus far, and our Board is focused on designing the processes and infrastructure by which organizations will submit grant requests. There’s more work to do and many details to be ironed out, but our all-volunteer Board is deeply committed to transparently and responsibly carrying out the Foundation’s mission.”
Grant Process Update
Over the past several months, the Grant Oversight Committee has moved the Foundation closer to inviting organizations across the state to submit grant applications to help in the fight against drug abuse and addiction. Grant awards will be allocated by the Foundation from funds received through multiple opioid settlements.
During the Board meeting, Dr. Greta Mayer, Region 14 Board appointee and vice chair of the Grant Oversight Committee, provided an update on the committee’s work. While many details are not yet finalized, Dr. Mayer outlined the key principles that the committee has developed to guide the process. Mayer stressed that, first and foremost, the Foundation is committed to developing a grant process built on accountability and compliance, demonstrating a commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and responsiveness. Additionally, the Foundation will rely on experts and those impacted by addiction to help determine region and statewide grant funding priorities.
The Grant Oversight Committee met immediately following the full board meeting to continue its work. All committee meetings, including those held virtually, are announced in advance, are open to the public, and meeting minutes are available online. (The Grant policy is available here.)
Executive Director Candidates Forwarded to Governor
The Foundation Board took steps toward appointing a permanent executive director to lead the organization. Per the OneOhio MOU, the governor makes the final selection of the executive director after receiving recommendations from the Board. Following an extensive national search conducted with input from executive search firm Kittleman & Associates, the Board approved the names of three candidates to be forwarded to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for consideration.
The three candidates recommended by the Board are:
• Lynnette Cook, current Executive Director of ARNOVA
• Lisa Mertz, current President & CEO of Addiction Services Council
• Alisha Nelson, current Director of Humana Healthy Horizons Ohio
Settlement Payment Update
On June 16, the Foundation received the third Johnson & Johnson settlement payment, which totaled more than $10.5 million. Pursuant to the OneOhio Memorandum of Understanding, the Board has 90 days from receipt of the settlement payment to allocate funds for future use. Chairman Kidd indicated that the Board should be prepared to discuss and approve those allocations at the August meeting.
Audit Process Update
As an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board members and staff are responsible for ensuring Foundation funds are used appropriately and in alignment with the organization’s mission. Clearly established in the Foundation’s Fiscal Policy is the requirement to engage in an annual independent audit, with findings reported to the Board. Jeanette Wierzbicki, Region 11 Board member and chair of the Audit & Finance Committee, announced that the first-year audit process is underway and read an update from the Foundation’s independent auditor, SEO CPA Group, LTD.
Other Actions
During the July meeting, Board members also:
• Received a welcome and update from Chair Kidd, which included honoring an Ohio family impacted by the opioid epidemic.
• Welcomed Representative Rachel Baker (D-Anderson Township) as the House Minority Leader’s new appointee to the Board of Directors, replacing Rep. Richard Brown. In addition to representing Ohio’s 27th House District, Rep. Baker is a nurse researcher providing leadership and strategic planning related to a healthcare system’s nursing evidence-based practice and research activities. She holds a Ph.D. and bachelor’s degree in nursing, as well as a master’s degree in social work.
• Approved a month-to-month contract with the Callender Law Group, LLC, to provide Board Secretary services.
• Received reports from Foundation staff and consultants regarding the organization’s finances, the Expert Panel application review process, grant software development, and communications.
The Board’s next public meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at offices of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, 34 S. 3rd Street, Columbus.
Members of the public and media may access video of all board meetings and related board documents at OneOhioFoundation.com/Meetings.
