Bradford County seeks federal grant to build 24/7 first‑responder addiction‑recovery team with sheriff’s office

Bradford County fire rescue officials said July 17 they will apply for a federal grant to expand community paramedicine into a 24/7 first‑responder addiction and recovery team in partnership with the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office and Meridian behavioral‑health services.

Fire Chief Carter described the First Responders Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act grant, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Carter said the grant could provide up to $800,000 annually for as many as four years, fund staff and equipment, expand medication‑assisted therapy access and provide a 24/7 counseling hotline to support law‑enforcement contacts that might otherwise not connect to treatment.

Carter told the board the sheriff is “100% on board” and that the proposal builds on Bradford County’s existing community resource paramedic program; the expansion would extend coverage to nights and weekends and include coordinated response when law enforcement encounters individuals in crisis. The county has no required local match, Carter said; any new hires would be grant‑funded and subject to the grant’s multi‑year funding horizon.

The board gave consensus to apply and asked staff to return with a retroactive request for formal approval on the consent agenda once the application is filed. Carter said the application deadline is Tuesday, July 22.