St. Francois County Accepting Applications for Opioid Settlement Funds

St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - St. Francois County is accepting applications for opioid settlement funding aimed at helping organizations address opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and education efforts within the county.

The funding comes from national opioid lawsuit settlements involving pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies. According to the county’s opioid settlement webpage, applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2026. The funding period will run from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027.

St. Francois County Treasurer Parks Peterson, who serves on the county’s Opioid Settlement Funds Review Board as a non-voting member, says there are specific stipulations organizations must follow when applying for the funds.

Peterson also emphasized that organizations will not automatically receive money upfront once approved for funding.

Instead, all funding is distributed on a reimbursement basis. Organizations awarded funding must submit approved documentation before receiving reimbursement from the county. According to county guidelines, acceptable documentation may include invoices, receipts, canceled checks, bank statements, credit card statements, and paycheck stubs.

County officials say funding must be tied directly to opioid treatment, prevention, and education initiatives that benefit residents of St. Francois County. The county also notes that all awarded funds not expended and reimbursed during the award period will be forfeited.

The Opioid Settlement Funds Review Board will review submitted proposals and provide recommendations to the St. Francois County Commission for final approval. The board also monitors reimbursement requests and evaluates whether funded organizations are meeting targeted outcomes.

More information and application materials are available through the St. Francois County Opioid Settlement page.