By John Sharp
al.com
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — The Mobile County Commission on Monday terminated its contract with a third-party alliance that state officials have praised for bringing a data-driven framework to assessing the best uses of opioid settlement money.
The vote came at the end of the commission’s regular meeting. A few hours later, commissioners issued a statement saying they intend to bring operational control of opioid settlement funds in-house rather than rely on an outside provider.
| MORE: Opioid settlement funds: A critical resource for addressing the crisis
The decision ends the county’s contracts with The Helios Alliance and its communications partner, Wellborn Strategies. According to documents provided Monday, Helios was set to receive 5% of the county’s opioid settlement funds, or about $112,192.
Wellborn Strategies held a $450,000 contract that included costs for a paid advertising campaign. Of that, approximately $300,000 to $350,000 goes toward paid media placement (TV, radio, digital and outdoor advertisement).
“By rescinding contractual agreements with The Helios Alliance and Wellborn Strategies, the Mobile County Commission has taken steps to move in a different operational direction regarding its opioid abatement funding,” the county’s statement reads. “Going forward, the process for selecting and approving settlement recipients, as well as launching an associated media campaign will be overseen and handled by County staffing. These actions will allow more of the Opioid Settlement funds to go directly to the agencies performing opioid prevention and abatement work within Mobile County.”
Helios will still present recommendations on how to use the approximately $2.2 million remaining in opioid settlement funds before May 27, when both contracts expire.
Mobile County received about $3.1 million last September. Of that amount, $225,230 was paid to the Helios Alliance, and roughly $600,000 was set aside for municipal and volunteer fire departments.
“Helios Alliance was honored to prepare the Community Needs Assessment for Mobile County in 2025 and then be retained again in 2026 to assist the County in implementing this critical work,” said Caroline Etherton, chair of the Helios Alliance. “It goes without saying that we remain committed to Mobile County’s opioid abatement efforts and the families affected by this crisis.”
Etherton said the alliance has received more than 24 applications from community organizations. Community leaders are evaluating proposals, she said, and recommendations will be delivered to the county within the next 30 days. At that point, she added, the alliance will “pass the baton to Mobile County and stand ready to assist in any way we can.”
Wellborn also said her firm “remains committed to Mobile County’s opioid abatement work.”
“We are currently in the process of launching a community media campaign and hope to see this important awareness effort move forward,” she said. “Our focus continues to be connecting residents with the treatment and recovery resources available in our community.”
The Helios Alliance remains contracted with the City of Mobile, which hired the group in 2024 for $154,000. That work produced an action plan for the city’s first round of settlement funds, totaling $2.2 million. The Mobile City Council followed the alliance’s recommendations, distributing money to a drug court and other organizations.
The county’s decision does not affect the city’s contract. A city spokesperson said there are no plans to make any changes with their contract at this time.
The move comes about a month after the Helios Alliance announced a partnership with Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office and the Alabama League of Municipalities to guide cities and counties on how best to use opioid settlement funds.
The alliance’s model relies on statistical analysis and artificial intelligence to map overdose trends, identify service gaps, and help craft targeted action plans. Marshall last month called the partnership a “generational opportunity,” noting that a joint survey of Alabama cities showed most wanted more guidance on how to spend settlement dollars effectively.
The Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for comment. It remains unclear how much the Helios Alliance will receive from the state.
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