May 8, 2023 - OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND BOARD HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization charged with helping distribute Ohio’s opioid settlement funds to advance substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts, held its annual meeting on May 8, 2024, at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce offices in Columbus.
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Chair Don Mason (Region 12) opened the meeting by urging all Board members to help reduce the stigma around mental health conditions. The May meeting also marked the first gathering of the Board since the Foundation’s 2024 Regional Grant Cycle closed its application window earlier this month. OneOhio is set to award as much as much as $51 million dollars this year to support evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts across the state.
“With more than 1,500 project proposals submitted in our first-ever funding application process, it goes without saying that we are thrilled with the volume of this response, even as we realize that our resources for this initial round of grants won’t be able to address the full extent of local needs,” Mason said. “This places a heavy responsibility on the 19 OneOhio Regions, the Expert Panel and our Board to weigh these proposals with special care in order to ensure the effectiveness and diverse reach of each dollar we distribute this year, while also remembering this is the first of many funding opportunities yet to come.”
As is now the Board’s custom, official business opened with a presentation reinforcing the organization’s mission by honoring Ohioans impacted by addiction. Board member Ted St John (Region 13) shared his inspiring personal journey from addiction to long-term recovery. Now CEO of Hope Town Ohio, a recovery support nonprofit organization based in Portage County, Ted’s lived and professional experience brings invaluable perspective the Board.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors then:
• Received a report from Chair Mason on Executive Committee actions and activities, including an update on board member terms. Mason also announced that the Board retreat will be held on Wednesday, July 10, immediately following the July Board of Directors meeting, which is now scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
• Elected officers to serve new two-year terms:
• Don Mason (Region 12) – Chair;
• Julie Ehemann (Region 15) – Vice Chair;
• Michael Roizen (Statewide) – Treasurer; and,
• Keith Hochadel (Region 6) – Secretary.
• Received an update from the Grant Oversight Committee and OneOhio staff regarding the proposals submitted in the first funding application cycle. Upon initial review, a total of 1,530 applications were submitted by 797 different organizations, and 48 percent of the proposals seek to serve multiple OneOhio Regions. Of the proposals submitted, 415 requested $100,000 or less. (Numbers are subject to change following application database review and cleanup to remove duplicate or incomplete submissions.) OneOhio Executive Director Alisha Nelson also provided an overview of the Expert Panel’s technical review process, which will focus on determining if proposals recommended by the Regions are evidence based and align with one or more abatement strategies.
• Received a report from the Audit & Finance Committee, including an overview of the unaudited 2023 financial statements by Finance Manager Jim Quinn. Executive Director Nelson then provided an update on the Foundation’s strategic planning process as it relates to the work of the Audit and Finance Committee. Executive Director Nelson also provided new projections of opioid settlement income based on both finalized and potential future settlements. Members also received a Related-Party Questionnaire to be completed as part of the Foundation’s annual financial audit by SEO CPA Group, Ltd.
• Received a report from the Personnel Committee regarding ongoing efforts to develop an employee handbook for Foundation staff.
• Received and approved a finance report from Finance Manager Jim Quinn.
The board’s next meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the offices of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
