~ Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry has announced the recipients of the City of Evansville's 2025 Opioid Settlement Fund allocation. The $1 million investment is aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid epidemic through prevention, treatment, recovery, and support services for residents.

A total of 26 organizations submitted applications for the funding, requesting a total of $4.7 million. To review these applications, Mayor Terry formed a committee consisting of Cedalia Ellis, LCSW, MSW; Lisa Seif, LCSW; City Councilman Paul Green; Suzanne Draper, retired CASA Director; and Bonnie Rinks, LCSW. The committee was facilitated by Communications Director Joe Atkinson, who did not vote on recommendations. Additionally, committee members recused themselves from reviewing or discussing any proposal from an organization with which they had a direct affiliation.

Using the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health best-practice framework as evaluation criteria, the committee provided funding recommendations to Mayor Terry. After reviewing and finalizing the list below, Mayor Terry presented it to the Evansville City Council for approval.

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The following organizations were approved for funding:

- Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare: $150,000

- YWCA: $150,000

- Problem Solving Courts: $130,000

- Counseling for Change: $123,750

- Youth First/Forefront Therapy: $60,000

- Boys & Girls Club: $58,000

- Parenting Time Center: $55,000

- Evansville Recovery Alliance: $50,000

- Foster Care in the US: $50,000

- Ark Crisis Center: $40,305

- Vanderburgh County Veterans Court: $38,174

- Caleb's Bridge of Hope: $34,000

- Matthew 25: $27,671

- Southwest Indiana Recovery & Empowerment: $23,100

- Disciples of Christ: $10,000

These investments are part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid epidemic in Evansville. They align with the seven criteria recommended by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for the use of Opioid Settlement Funds, including treatment, support for people in recovery, harm reduction, and primary prevention.

Mayor Terry emphasized the importance of addressing addiction as a public health challenge and supporting community-based programs that offer pathways to recovery. She stated, "Addiction has touched every corner of our community, and these dollars must be used in ways that make the greatest impact." The organizations recommended for funding are doing vital work on the front lines of this crisis and this investment will help them expand their efforts at a critical time.

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Following City Council approval, the City will finalize award agreements with each organization. These agreements will define eligible uses and reporting requirements consistent with national opioid settlement guidelines. This investment is a significant step towards creating a full end-to-end opioid response system in Evansville that aims to prevent addiction before it starts, stabilize those in crisis, support long-term recovery, and reduce downstream costs such as incarceration and emergency response.

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