Mifflin County amends tri‑county opioid agreement as Single County Authority reports increases in treatment access

Mifflin County commissioners voted to approve Amendment No. 1 to a memorandum of agreement dated Oct. 20, 2022, to add newly awarded opioid settlement funds to the existing tri‑county arrangement.

The change was introduced as part of a presentation by Mikayla Mills, fiscal officer for the Juniata Valley Tri‑County Single County Authority (SCA), who updated the commission on programs paid for with opioid settlement dollars and by the SCA.

The amendment was described as adding funds that were not included in the original agreement and adding a termination clause that allows either party, if they agree, to terminate within 60 days. Commissioners moved and seconded the amendment and approved it by voice vote.

Mikayla Mills told the commissioners that the SCA used settlement dollars to fund public awareness and access strategies, including print, radio and digital media, crisis cards and speaking engagements, and by embedding drug and alcohol case managers in the jail, probation, children and youth services, the courts and treatment providers. She reported measured increases in several access metrics comparing fiscal year 2022–23 to 2023–24: a 24 percent increase in individuals assessed for treatment, a 19 percent increase in individuals receiving case management, a 19 percent increase in referrals from probation and corrections, and a 47 percent increase in referrals for children and youth.

The SCA also increased distribution points for naloxone (Narcan). Mills said Narcan is available at the SCA office, at periodic distribution events, and in a distribution box located in the Compass Building on South Dorcas Street; the SCA is working to place a box at the Dream Center and Narcan has also been made available at a local food pantry. Mills provided a contact for services and upcoming events: (717) 242‑1446. She said the SCA will continue to prioritize access to treatment, case management, prevention, student assistance programs, medication‑assisted treatment and crisis response services and will pursue additional programs if more funds become available.

The presentation followed an agenda item that introduced the amendment to the Oct. 20, 2022, memorandum of agreement; commissioners approved the amendment by voice vote. The record does not identify a formal roll‑call tally in the transcript.

Mills answered commissioners’ questions about the Single County Authority structure, explaining that each Pennsylvania county has a single county authority and that the local authority serving Huntingdon, Mifflin and Juniata counties is called Juniata Valley Tri‑County Drug and Alcohol.

Commissioners did not set additional conditions in the meeting record; follow‑up actions were not specified beyond the amendment’s approval and the SCA’s stated priorities for spending additional funds.