Area ASAP program seeks county support to maintain staff, says local users face long waits

The director of the regional Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) asked the board for county financial support to address staffing shortfalls and reduce client backlogs that delay license restoration and employment.

Elizabeth, the program director, told the board the ASAP serves seven southwest Virginia counties (Lee, Scott, Wise, Tazewell, Russell, Dickinson and Buchanan) and some out‑of‑state clients. She said the program is not state‑funded on an ongoing basis and is primarily financed through offender fees and county support when available. She said current staffing is one full‑time employee, one part‑time employee and herself; that configuration causes intake delays of about a month and longer waits for participants seeking license reinstatement and class enrollment.

"We're completely offender funded; your support would really mean a lot to us, even 5 to 15,000," she said, outlining that fees are $400 for a first DUI and $300 for additional convictions. She said in 2024 the regional program served 534 clients across 30 counties, and Dickinson County accounted for roughly 30 client registrations by conviction county.

Board members asked about past county funding and neighboring counties’ contributions. Elizabeth said Scott County has provided $5,000 and that Russell County and Tazewell were considering similar amounts. The board did not make an immediate funding decision; members said they would consider appropriation requests through the budget or a future agenda item.

No motion was made at the meeting; the presentation was recorded as public comment on service needs and a request for potential fiscal support.