County health staff report rabies case, recovery events and plans to use opioid settlement funds for clinics and school programs

Commissioner John and public-health and community-services staff told the Sullivan County Health and Human Services Committee about public-health activity this summer, planned community events and possible uses of opioid settlement funds.

John said overdose and substance-use work continues to be a county priority: “The number for July is 19,” he said, referring to July overdose incidents. John said some overdoses involved alcohol and that the county is pursuing collaborations with treatment providers.

John briefed the committee on potential uses of opioid settlement funds, saying the drug task-force leads will next meet to consider options including supporting primary-care clinic access and supplementing the county’s Restart program, which provides school-based substance-use counseling through Sullivan BOCES. He mentioned a local project to reopen a clinic in the Highland area and said county staff are exploring partnerships to expand clinic services beyond primary care.

Lena Ledvin, community services coordinator for the local government unit, outlined prevention and recovery work: the county has been installing Knox boxes at several sites, partnering with SALT for Narcan distribution at Bethel Woods and adding naloxone kits to vending machines, and planning a public “Recovery Celebration” on Sept. 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Hanafi Park in Liberty to reduce stigma and highlight recovery resources.

Lena also described development of the county’s Fatality Review Board (FRB): the FRB completed its first next-of-kin interview and will hold a case presentation on Sept. 22; staff are preparing materials to introduce the FRB to the public and to minimize intrusion on grieving families.

Tiffany Khan, director of patient services for public health, reported program activity and community outreach: disease-surveillance staff completed more than 100 camp audits this summer with no systemic concerns; the department is co-hosting a health fest focused on children on Sept. 23 at DeJoys Park in Monticello from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and she reported a recent rabies-positive fox in the town of Neversink that required human post-exposure treatment that is nearly complete. “That treatment has gone on successfully and they are just about at the end of that,” Tiffany said.

County staff also highlighted workforce and program developments: Lexington, a substance use disorder provider, resolved final contracting hurdles with Garnet Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and is expected to open additional services in the county by the end of the calendar year. The county said the Restart program for teens at Sullivan BOCES continues with funding from the Gary Foundation for the coming school year.

Several staff promotions and hires were announced: the county has new direct liaisons to school districts enabled by additional DSS hires, a new peer court navigator (Emma) receiving referrals and likely to screen for the social care network, and an outreach planning coordinator starting Aug. 26. County staff said more details on program placements, timelines and proposed uses of opioid settlement funds will be presented when drug task-force pillar leads meet next month.