Kimber Reynolds, representing the county's IRAC/recovery partnership, gave commissioners a detailed update on the program Nov. 17, citing operational metrics and early outcome data from a UMass study of pilot sites.

Reynolds said IRAC staff logged 2,355 brief engagements through Oct. 31, 2025, and reported 60 short-term treatment referrals, 36 long-term referrals and 55 placements into recovery residences. The program also reported 204 participants in a wraparound wellness program, 518 participants in the evidence-based Matrix program and 488 people assisted with insurance navigation. Staff said 135 individuals had been transitioned successfully to the Indiana Department of Corrections as part of reentry coordination.

Reynolds told commissioners a UMass medical-school outcome report covering five pilot sites found declines in fatal overdoses and other system metrics at IRAC sites compared with non-IRAC counties. She cited percentage comparisons in the pilot analysis presented to the commission: a larger reduction in jail metrics and emergency-department visits in IRAC sites versus non-IRAC sites, and a 43% reduction for certain EMS response measures at IRAC pilot sites compared with 36% in non-IRAC counties.

Commissioner questions focused on funding: county staff said the county contributed $25,000 in an earlier year and $50,000 in the current year, and Reynolds said the program will move to a state Recovery Works fee-for-service model Jan. 1 with payments tied to weekly touch points; Reynolds agreed to provide the fee-for-service model documentation and the UMass report to county legal counsel.