Well, good afternoon, everyone.

And welcome to the Ramsey County Board Workshop.

This afternoon workshop will be a presentation of the county's OPR response initiative.

Today's workshop focuses on Ramsey County response to the OPR epidemic, which it is, and how we are using the opioid settlement funds to address its impact in our community.

A courtesy reminder that this board's workshop is recorded and it is live streamed on Zoom webinar.

So there would be no votes taken during the workshop.

So we're going to start with introductions of commissioners and presenters around the table, then the rest of the room.

So I am Green Moran, Ramsey County Commissioner, District 4.

Charge Evan Thing, County Commissioner District 1.

Mary Joe McGuire, Commissioner District 2.

Ralph Ayola, Commissioner District 5.

My Chong Zhang Commissioner District 6.

Chairson McMurtry, Commissioner District 3.

Helly Miller, Commissioner District 7.

Well back here county manager.

Why don't we start right here in the front?

So Mitchell, the supervisor of the opioid settlement team in public health.

Oh, and Colin Sparrow, I'm here.

Veronica Jackson, I'm the raisin called Faculty Administrator.

Ray O'Reill, I'm a communication support for the OPA response.

Ashley Sarm Division Manager for Clinical Services and then Bonacult.

Eric Reminson, our regional response supervisor with services and public health.

Brian Rasmussen Health Educator, St.

Paul, Ramsey County, Public Health.

Rachel Dixon, Thomson John Gentleman.

Well, thank you, everyone, and welcome.

Did we get everyone before in here?

Sorry.

General Controller Health Officers.

I thank you.

Welcome.

So the opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in 2017.

And it continues to affect communities across the county.

They have remained relatively stable through 2025.

This reminds us that although we made progress, there is still significant work ahead.

Ramsey County is expected to receive more than 26 million dollars in opioid settlement funds through the annual payment through 2022 from 2022 through 2038.

These funds represent an important opportunity and a responsibility to invest in strategies that prevent overdose deaths and address the long-term impact of the opioid crisis.

You understand I did that prevent these nice and live.

The work is evolving, including a new governance structure, stronger coordination across departments, and opportunities for intentional partnerships.

The sponsors of the new governance structures are Deputy County, Karen Francois, Deputy County Manager Gloria Reyes, the Deputy Counter Manager, Nadir, Lydia Abby, who's at the table, thank you.

The workshop will be presented by Health and Wellness Deputy County Manager, Nerdier Abby, Public Health Director, Amy Karen, Public Health Deputy Director Ray Eaton Frank, and Health Educator Ryan.

Who's not here?

Ryan Robinson.

Okay.

Brian, okay.

So who would like to open up?

Good here.

Thank you, Chair.

Good afternoon, Chair Commissioners, County Manager.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide an update to the Ramsey County County Wide Opioid Response Initiative today.

My name is Nadir Adu, the Deputy Funding Manager for the Health Service Team.

We are here this afternoon to give you an update on the county response on the opioid devices.

I'm joined here today as with my colleagues, DCM Gloria Reyes, DCM Francois, who both run from stuff earlier, who along with the who along with me make up the executive sponsors for this initiative.

I'm also joined here by the public health director, Amy Karen and Public Health Deputy Director Ray Eden Frank.

During this workshop, we will hear from a staff member, Ryan Rasmussen about his personal experience because lived experience is something that we care deeply about.

And I feel like it's going to bring a lot to this conversation that we'll have today.

So today's workshop intends to accomplish four objectives.

One to update you on the countywide opioid response initiative, introduce the vision, governance model, guidance principle, and the one Ramsey County approach.

The second is to provide an understanding of the opioid crisis and the settlement framework, review the public health emergency, settlement history, and funding structure and requirements.

The third is to highlight investments and progress to date, showcase current projects, accomplishments, and impact of the settlement funded initiatives.