La Crosse County is investing about $7.6 million in opioid settlement funds into a ten‑year plan called RISE to reduce overdoses, strengthen families, and ease long‑term strain on county systems. The County Board received an update on the plan earlier this month.

Why it Matters: Substance use continues to strain county services. Many people entering the jail have substance use disorders, a large share of child protection cases involve parental substance use, and opioid use is prevalent among unsheltered residents. Overdose deaths peaked at 55 in 2023 and have fallen since, but overdoses, and hospitalizations remain high.

What RISE is: RISE (Recovery, Intervention, Support, Empowerment) is the County’s long‑term plan for investing settlement dollars. It was developed with input from the County Board and an advisory team spanning the Health and Human Services departments and the Sheriff's Office.

What’s Underway: The county is implementing strategies across justice services, family supports, and treatment access. First‑year investments, included in the 2026 budget, are moving ahead.

Total 2026 Investment: $626,100 (plus $63,800 in matching grants).

• Justice Support ($400,600): Jail‑based medication treatment, screening, re‑entry planning, in‑jail therapy, sober‑living support and rental assistance for people leaving custody.
• Family Strengthening ($205,000): Expanded home visiting, residential treatment access, supportive living for pregnant individuals and parents, coordinated maternal care, and rent support to prevent out‑of‑home placements.
• Treatment Access ($84,339): System coordination, countywide harm‑reduction supply management, a digital therapeutic pilot, and housing assistance to remove barriers to treatment.

Expected impact:

• Fewer jail admissions and reduced repeat involvement
• Fewer child protection cases and fewer out‑of‑home placements
• Faster access to treatment
• Improved coordination across justice, health, and human services

Where the Money Comes From: The estimated $7.6 million in funding, which is being distributed to the county over a number of years, comes from national class‑action lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. It is intended to compensate the County for the impact of opioids on local services.

What’s Next: The county will continue rolling out RISE action plans, expand housing and treatment supports, and evaluate progress as the multi‑year effort continues.

Read the full RISE plan here.

Landfill Cell Project Advances

Construction of a new cell with a capacity of 700,000 cubic yards of waste at the La Crosse County Landfill is advancing.

This $3 million project means an existing cell is now full and will be returned to green space. You can hear Jackie Davis, Solid Waste Operations Coordinator, talk about the project in the video linked below. She estimates the work will be complete by October.

Our La Crosse County Solid Waste Department staff (some of whom are pictured) work hard to serve the public. About 31% of materials brought to the facility are diverted from landfilling or recycled, and staff are always looking for ways to reduce landfilling. The department is self‑funded, supported by tipping fees and a variety of other revenue sources.

Join Our August Blood Drive

Please sign up for our August Blood Drive, which takes place Friday, August 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Health and Human Services Building (300 4th St. N, La Crosse). Sign up for an appointment here. The drive is public and walk-ins are also welcome.

Vote Aug. 11

The Wisconsin partisan primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 11. Remember that you may vote in only one party's primary. If you choose a party, votes cast in that party will be counted. If you don't choose a party and you vote for candidates in more than one party, no votes will be counted.

Check your registration, find your polling place and see what's on your ballot at MyVote.Wi.Gov. There are contested primaries for Governor, Congress, and various state offices so please make your voice heard by voting.

County Careers: Long-Term Care

"I absolutely love my job. Everyone here is filled with positivity, optimism, and genuine compassion," says Anna Grant, a Certified Nursing Assistant at Hillview, in the video you can watch above.

Anna began working for La Crosse County last October as a Household Assistant and later trained to become a CNA. Our long‑term care staff support many older adults in our community with dedication and compassion.

Both our Hillview and Lakeview long‑term care campuses currently have a variety of job openings offering competitive pay, great benefits, flexible schedules, and opportunities for advancement. Please help share these opportunities to serve the public. View all La Crosse County job openings here.

Senior Citizens Day Picnic, Car Show and More

In honor of National Senior Citizens Day, join us for a community picnic on Friday, August 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Black River Beach Neighborhood Center, La Crosse.

The picnic will be served at 12 p.m. and the menu includes cheeseburgers, potato salad, baked beans, fresh fruit, and cookies. Participants must be at least 60 years old, and reservations are required by calling 608-785-5775 no later than Aug. 19. A $6 donation is suggested. The Driftless River Band will kick off the event with live music at 11 a.m. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a display of classic cars and treat yourself to a root beer float.

The event is hosted by the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of La Crosse County in partnership with the City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.

Working to Reduce Homelessness

La Crosse County staff (including from Integrated Support and Recovery Services, pictured) recently participated in the Homeless Connect event in La Crosse. The event brings together local organizations and resources to support people experiencing homelessness.

This is one of the many ways La Crosse County is working to help people who are homeless access services and housing through Pathways Home, our city-county homelessness response plan.

In the video above, hear from Chris, a tenant at Park Lane Studios, our supportive housing development that’s part of Pathways Home. He shared how housing paired with services is helping him work part‑time and go to college.

New Tool Improves PDF Accessibility on County Website

A new accessibility tool called DocAccess has been added to the La Crosse County website to improve access to PDF documents.



When you open a PDF, such as a county board agenda, you’ll now see a button in the upper left corner of the page. Clicking it converts the file into a more accessible, screen reader-friendly format. DocAccess also offers enhanced search features and translation options.

National Night Out is Aug. 4

Join the community for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, from 5–8 p.m. at Mormon Coulee Park in the Town of Shelby.

The first 500 attendees will receive a hotdog or brat, chips, and water courtesy of St. Joe’s Country Market, and the La Crosse Loggers will be handing out free Dippin’ Dots.

Visitors can also stop by booths and activities from the Sheriff's Office, La Crosse County Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Shelby Fire Department, and Tri-State Ambulance, along with kids’ games and more. Details here.