Lehigh County Board of Commissioners member Dave Harrington, co-sponsor of a resolution to enter into a professional services agreement with Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Services, is hoping this is 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 commissioners meeting.

Around 300 individuals will benefit directly from this agreement. Their loved ones will also benefit from them getting help, it was reported.

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

The amendment to the 2023-27 Lehigh County capital plan to include the purchase of furniture and equipment for the Lehigh County 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,” Chair Geoff Brace said of the Child and Youth Services workers. “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.”

Commissioners also approved the creation of a new position - recruitment/retention coordinator - in the human resources office.

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

In the midst of a healthy and competitive job market, Brace said he hopes this new position will help attract qualified candidates for what he describes as a good work environment.