By Marieke Andronache

Special to The Press

Lehigh County Commissioner Dave Harrington, co-sponsor of a resolution to enter into a professional services agreement with Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Services, wants this to be an important step in dealing with the current opioid crisis.

“This is a contract with folks who are going to come into the jail as part of the opioid settlement to manage and treat addiction and mental health issues arising from that addiction in a way that we are hoping will lead to rehabilitation,” Harrington said, at the May 24 board meeting.

Some 300 individuals will benefit directly from this agreement, according to discussion at the meeting.

“This is one of many steps that we’re taking as a county in order to address these (opioid) addiction issues,” Harrington said.

In other matters, the amendment to the 2023-27 Lehigh County Capital Plan to include the purchase of furniture and equipment for the Office of Children and Youth Services served as a backdrop to the greater discussion on the importance of this department in helping minors in challenging cases.

“These are the folks who are called to the front lines of the situations, investigating allegations of deep areas of conflict that most of us will never hear about,” Commissioners’ Chairman Geoff Brace said.

“The fact that we are entertaining the salaries and wages, and making certain that this office has the space it needs to do its job effectively, these are good couple of steps that we are taking.”

A new job classification of recruitment/retention coordinator in the county Office of Human Resources was approved unanimously by commissioners.

“This position is essential for the county to help recruit and retain our experienced employees to help the great staff we currently have and to help create innovative programs services and ideas to retain our staff,” HR Director Keisha McCollin-Bulluck said.

Brace stated he anticipates this new position will help attract qualified candidates for what he describes as a “good work environment.”