Carroll County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved recommendations from the county's opioid settlement fund committee to award $110,446.70 to three local programs aimed at prevention, treatment and response.

The board voted to approve $55,257.70 for Carroll County Ambulance Service, $28,549 for Manning Regional Healthcare Center for a mobile immersive prevention trailer, and $26,640 for New Opportunities to support care coordination, crisis counseling and community outreach.

The three awards implement the committee's determinations after review of applications from the three organizations. Committee members told supervisors that the Manning Regional request would fund a mobile, immersive training trailer for parents, teachers and first responders to help identify where teens and young adults conceal opioid or alcohol use. The ambulance service requested funding for a Stryker LIFEPAK monitor and other items; the committee funded 50% of the high-cost monitor and fully funded the other requested budget items. New Opportunities' request was described by committee members as a one-time bridge until federal or district behavioral-health funding is available.

Jamie Webb, who identified herself as a peer at Care of Pennsylvania, described the clinical rationale for partial funding of the ambulance monitor, saying the device improves monitoring of respiratory compromise common in opioid overdoses. "Every opioid overdose has respiratory compromise," Webb said. "This has the capability of monitoring that and giving us better feedback."

Supervisors discussed the committee's desire to use settlement funds for prevention, abatement and treatment rather than drawing on county tax revenue. The board also heard that roughly $332,000 in settlement proceeds had been collected so far and that about $220,000 remained available after the awards; $200,000 of county funds are in a certificate of deposit maturing next week.

Votes at a glance

- Carroll County Ambulance Service: approve $55,257.70 (motion carried)
- Manning Regional Healthcare Center: approve $28,549 (motion carried)
- New Opportunities: approve $26,640 (motion carried)

Each award was moved and seconded on the record and approved by voice vote.

The board directed that invoices be submitted to county finance for payment and that award recipients file quarterly reports as required by the application agreements so the county can track usage and outcomes.

The opioid settlement fund committee said it will meet again in January and expects additional applications, including another likely request from the county paramedics association.

Ending

Supervisors kept the awards separate so any board member could oppose a single recommendation without blocking the others. The board plans a quarterly review of the fund and will decide later this month whether to reinvest a portion of the $200,000 CD maturing next week.