Chautauqua County is committed to using the Office of Addiction Services and Supports
(OASAS) opioid settlement funds transparently, responsibly, and in direct service of community
impact, with an emphasis on prevention, safety, and saving lives before crisis.
As required under New York State Mental Hygiene Law §25.18, the County publicly reports how
these funds have actually been spent, not just budgeted, and will update this page annually by
November 1.
What OASAS permits these settlement funds to be used for
Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions,
including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), telehealth access, detox services, peer
recovery coaches. OASAS.NY.GOV
Prevention activities such as training for safe and appropriate prescribing/dispensing of
opioids, public education campaigns, disposal programs, school-based
prevention. OASAS.NY.GOV
Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention: e.g., naloxone distribution, overdose
education, data-tracking, syringe service programs. OASAS.NY.GOV
Leadership, Planning & Coordination: funding for cross-system planning, local task
forces, infrastructure to support collaborative opioid-related efforts. OASAS.NY.GOV
Lock & Talk CHQ
Led by the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County
Launched April 2025: Suicide & Overdose Prevention / Safety Initiative
Lock & Talk CHQ is a community safety initiative promoting secure firearm storage, medication
safety, and open conversations about safety at home. Safety tools are only distributed through
brief training, reinforcing education first, tools second.
This initiative aligns with the approved uses related to harm-reduction, overdose prevention, and
community outreach (naloxone/education) as well as leadership/coordination.
“Safety isn’t about fear—it’s about protection and love. Lock & Talk CHQ gives people
both the tools and the language to secure their homes, prevent suicide and overdose, and
protect the people they love. When we normalize safety, we save lives—and when we do
it together as a community, we build hope.”
~ Carri Raynor, Suicide Prevention Alliance
Community Impact Goals (Year One):
• 1,000 Chautauqua County residents trained
• Firearm safety locks distributed through education
• Medication lock boxes & resource bags provided post-training
• Focused outreach to veterans, youth-serving homes, older adults & at-risk families
Funds utilized to date (Opioid Settlement Fund): $462.15
School-Based Prevention & Early Intervention: Dunkirk City School District
In partnership with Prevention Works, Inc.
This investment supports evidence-based classroom programs and individualized early
intervention, helping students build social-emotional strength, make healthy decisions, and
avoid substance use before it begins.
This investment aligns with OASAS-approved prevention uses (youth programs, school-based
prevention, early intervention) and harm-reduction/connection to care elements.
Programs include:
• PAX Good Behavior Game: classroom behavior and self-regulation training
• Teen Intervene Brief Intervention Program
• Individual Intervention: one-on-one support for students affected by addiction
“When we invest in prevention early, inside the classroom, and one-on-one, we
interrupt the cycle long before addiction or crisis begins. We’re building skills and
resilience that change the entire trajectory of a young person’s life.”
~Melanie Witkowski, Prevention Works
Funds utilized to date (Opioid Settlement Fund): $125,933.10
Countywide Leadership & Coordination
OASAS Category: Planning / Systems Oversight
In alignment with OASAS-approved uses for leadership, planning, and interagency coordination,
a portion of Chautauqua County’s settlement funding supports the centralized infrastructure
required to guide strategy, ensure compliance, and publicly communicate progress across
community partners.
This work includes:
• Coordinating countywide opioid response efforts across prevention, treatment, recovery,
law enforcement, and school systems
• Overseeing the process for proposal intake, prioritization, and funding alignment
• Ensuring all settlement investments meet official OASAS intent and reporting
requirements
This oversight ensures that OASAS settlement funds are strategically directed, not siloed, and
remain tightly aligned to New York State’s intent, community impact, and long-term
accountability. This foundational coordination ensures that every OASAS dollar is strategic,
compliant, and meaningfully connected to community impact, not fragmented or duplicative.
Funds utilized to date (OASAS Settlement Fund): $19,212.82
Our Transparency Commitment
Chautauqua County will continue to publicly disclose all OASAS Opioid Settlement dollars
actually spent, as required by NYS law, even in years when no spending occurs.
Additional investments will be added to this page as new funds are actively deployed.
