Luzerne County

The Commission reviewed and processed submissions for opioid funding. The Willow Foundation and Greater Pittston Regional Ambulance applications were funded. The Vilomah Foundation and Evelyst applications were not funded after general discussion regarding concerns. The Guardian Angels Recovery House application was tabled pending discussion regarding concerns about purchasing a house. Media applications for Audacy Wilkes-Barre and Bold Gold Media Group were tabled. The Restorative Roots application will be addressed at the subsequent meeting after scoring sheets are reviewed. The Commission discussed reconsideration of the denial for Endless Mountain Recovery, agreeing to have representatives attend the next meeting. Discussions were tabled regarding the Prison MAT Program numbers for 2025-2026, future funding for community-based warm-hand-off and prison re-entry services, and expanded school-based prevention/education services, pending budget breakdowns.

The Commission on Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement (OMAAC) meeting addressed several key items. The committee discussed the Opioid Settlement Contract Funding Agreement/Business Associate Agreement, which is anticipated for review shortly. The members unanimously agreed to host the next Opioid Settlement Town Hall, tentatively scheduled for March 24th at the Butler Township public office hall. Furthermore, the committee reviewed the latest application submissions for opioid settlement funding, which included new requests from the Willow Foundation, Dress for Success, and the Guardian Angels Recovery Housing Expansion Project. It was noted that media outlets with funding applications are scheduled to present to the Luzerne County Council on February 25, 2025.

Key discussions during this meeting included feedback from the Wilkes-Barre Fire Chief regarding the proper administration of Narcan and concerns about potential over-administration of the overdose reversal medication. The committee members discussed educating the public through PSAs. The group also re-capped the Hazleton City Town Hall, expressing satisfaction with participation, and planned a future town hall in the Greater Pittston Area for June 2025. Discussions continued regarding outstanding Opioid Settlement Funding Applicants, with plans to score submissions from entities such as Dress for Success and Guardian Angels Recovery House for Women. A report confirmed the timely submission of the latest PA Opioid Trust Report for Luzerne County. Furthermore, a representative reported on potential future changes to Opioid Settlement spending restrictions.

The meeting focused on administrative matters and funding discussions related to the Opioid Settlement. Key discussions included offering media outlets who submitted Opioid Settlement applications the opportunity to present their proposals to the Luzerne County Council in late February 2025. The Commission reviewed current Opioid Settlement funding allocations, covering committed funds, remaining unspent funds, and scheduled expenditure dates, and also reviewed a list of pending application proposals. Furthermore, the committee discussed and voted to deny moving forward with the opioid settlement platform proposed by Stage Analytics. The Chief County Solicitor reported active work on the Opioid Settlement Funding Sub-Recipient Contracts, with anticipated final review soon.

The meeting included a Director's Report highlighting successful community outreach events such as the Railriders Game and the Back 2 School Bash, which served approximately 130 children. A key challenge discussed was the severe impact of the state budget impasse, which has caused a lack of state and federal funding since May, forcing a pause on prevention programs and threatening provider stability for hard-to-place children. The agency is relying on county payroll support to avoid layoffs. Efforts for the Christmas program are being modified to ensure better distribution of gifts. The agency is actively expanding partnerships for food sourcing, including Heffron's, Sheetz, and Fork Over Love. Truancy prevention efforts are progressing with improved coordination among school districts and other agencies. The fiscal department submitted necessary budget narratives on time. The Board discussed future fundraising activities, including potential events like a Book Fair at Barnes & Noble, an Ultimate Frisbee tournament, and selling Montage Mountain lift tickets. Furthermore, efforts in information and education are focused on speaking at colleges to address a decline in social work majors and developing accessible materials for schools regarding available services.