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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Blair County commissioners agreed Thursday to again solicit applications for another round of funding from the National Opioid Settlement.
The county expects to receive about $700,000 from its next allocation, Director of Social Services Tricia Johnson told commissioners at their weekly meeting.
As deemed in the litigation settlement, the money is to be used to abate and remediate the harm resulting from the nation's opioid epidemic.
Local entities interested in asking for a portion of the $700,000 will need to submit an application package to the county by Oct. 9.
They're also encouraged to sign up for an online webinar that Johnson is offering at 10 a.m. today and will be repeating before the Oct. 9 deadline. Those interested in the webinar will need to register by emailing Johnson at tjohnson@blaircountypa.gov.
During the webinar, Johnson is expected to review who is eligible to apply and how the application process works.
Commissioner Laura Burke also recommended Thursday that interested applicants review Exhibit E, which outlines what can be funded.
The Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust often refers to Exhibit E while reviewing spending proposals that are supposed to focus on evidence-based intentions to help those with drug addictions.
Exhibit E also permits spending for broader community-level efforts, including prevention programs, recovery services and public education campaigns, subject to the trust's interpretation.
Commissioners Chairman Dave Kessling pointed out that even if commissioners subsequently approve an application seeking funds, the state can turn down the request if it finds that the proposed use doesn't comply with Schedule E.
In May, commissioners approved the proposed distribution of $1.23 million allocated to the county from the National Opioid Settlement, based on an advisory committee's recommendations. Almost $500,000 of that amount was directed toward drug use abatement and remediation inside the county prison. Of the $500,000, about $261,000 was designated for the continuation and expansion of the Medication Assisted Treatment for inmates with substance use disorders. Other money was directed toward prison counseling, cognitive behavior therapy and the women's reentry program.
The remainder of the distributions that commissioners approved in May assigned allocations to support the cost of homeless outreach counselor, a prevention specialist, a grief program, training in the use of Naloxone, multidimensional family therapy, a K-9 drug prevention/intervention dog and a Lost Angels Blessing Bags project.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.