The Washington County Board of Commissioners adopted four proclamations during its April 2025 meeting recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 13–19), Autism Appreciation Month (April 2025), Month of the Young Child (April 2025) and National Library Week (April 2025).

The proclamations were presented by commissioners and accepted by local agency representatives who described services and needs tied to each observance. The telecommunicators proclamation honored staff at the Washington County Emergency Communication Center and was accepted by Jerry Coleman, director of Washington County Public Safety. Mark Clovey, 911 operations manager, told the commissioners, “they are the true first first responder,” and urged public support for recognizing telecommunicators as first responders in state classification.

The autism proclamation was accepted by Sheila Feiner, director of intellectual disability and autism services, and other local providers who thanked the commissioners for recognition and public supports. A representative noted an April 23 recognition event at Chartiers Community Center and distributed informational flyers. In remarks about early-intervention services Rachel Verghelli, a parent whose child receives services, described the impact on her family: she said the child’s therapists had “been absolutely wonderful” and credited early-intervention services with helping her daughter’s communication and development.

The board also proclaimed April as the Month of the Young Child, citing county behavioral health and developmental services statistics included with the proclamation that roughly 723 infants and toddlers were referred for services in the past year and more than 900 children received annual developmental supports. Commissioner remarks and accepting speakers emphasized workforce and funding challenges for early-childhood providers; Val Williams of the nonprofit Trying Together urged support for a proposed Pennsylvania budget line to aid childcare recruitment and retention.

For National Library Week, Diane Ambrose, assistant administrator for the Washington County Library System, thanked the commissioners for sustained county funding and highlighted services across the county’s 14 libraries, including the Wagon Automation Network that shares about 700,000 items among systems in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. Ambrose invited residents to system events and noted a July 26 community event at Bingo Park.

Each proclamation was adopted by roll call. Commissioners noted the ceremonial proclamations as part of the county’s public recognition of local providers and county-supported programs. The meeting then moved on to regular business.