CHARLESTON – The group in charge of distributing nearly $1 billion in opioid settlement funds met for the first time November 6.
The West Virginia First Foundation met Monday in Charleston. Created by the state Legislature, the foundation will use the money from the various settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors to combat the drug epidemic that has plagued the state for years.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for the state of West Virginia to finally begin a lot of the healing from the ravages of the drug epidemic that’s been going on for so long,” Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said during an afternoon press briefing. “This has been a work in progress for many years.”
Morrisey, who isn’t a member of the foundation, said the state decision to opt out of the national opioid settlement has made it possible for its citizens to see more of a financial impact.
“It started when we started working with the cities and counties on this,” Morrisey said. “We reached consensus with every county and most every city. Lots of positive things have happened.”
Morrisey said today’s meeting was a chance for the foundation members to get to know each other and to take the first steps in the process, including opening a bank account for the settlement money.
“It’s up to them to manage the process, but we want to do everything to make sure this is a successful venture,” Morrisey said. “This is unique. It’s an opportunity to do really incredible things. I ask for everyone’s patience along the way.”
The foundation opened the account with Huntington Bank, which is serving as the escrow agent for the foundation free of charge.
Per the memorandum of understanding, the foundation will disperse 72.5 percent of the state’s settlement funds, and 24.5 percent will go to local governments. The remaining 3 percent will be held in escrow to cover any outstanding attorney’s fees.
Morrisey told the foundation the money can be used for “anything that is related to the drug epidemic would be permissible, whether it is education, prevention, treatment, law enforcement or other matters.”
The foundation elected Jefferson County Prosecutor Matt Harvey as chairman and Dr. Matthew Christiansen, commissioner of the state Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau of Public Health, as vice chairman. Former state Department of Homeland Security secretary Jeff Sandy is treasurer, and Harrison County Schools Superintendent Dora Stutler is secretary.
The foundation has 11 members, six selected by counties in six regions across the state and five appointed by Gov. Jim Justice. The six regional representatives are Steven Corder, Tim Czaja, Tom Joyce, Jonathan Board, Christiansen and Dr. Tony Kelly. Board members will serve staggered three-year terms.
“This has been an extremely smooth handoff,” Harvey said at the afternoon press briefing. “We had an incredibly busy first day. We got a lot done, but it’s just the first steps in shoring up this foundation. Our fundamental call is to adopt and create tools to combat the opioid scourge that has plagued this state for a generation.
“My service is to honor the tens of thousands that have passed and to restore families. We are so hopeful that we actually have the tools to fight back. Our goals are restoring families and saving lives.”
Harvey also said the counties and cities could begin seeing their shares of the settlement money as early as this calendar year “so they can begin directing those resources into hands of people who can do the most good with them.”
“We will be there to offer suggestions and help coordinate partnerships,” Harvey said. “But we don’t have a say over how they’ll use it. There will be an extensive outreach project across the state.”
Christiansen said the first meeting was a good start before the foundation begins “making the really important decisions.”
“We know, as a board, we don’t have all of the answers,” he said. “And we’re going to need to engage with our stakeholder groups.”
He said that includes employers, law enforcement, educators and more.
“We want to hear what’s happening on the ground to make the best use of resources and return on investment,” he said. “We’re just so excited about the future.”
Next on the foundation’s agenda is selecting an executive director. Morrisey said it’s premature to discuss that right now, but he said due diligence has been done on that front.