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Council allocates $9,561.33 from opioid settlement to co‑responder program
Summary
Lock Haven City Council approved a $9,561.33 allocation from recent opioid‑settlement disbursements to the Center for Community Resources to continue a crisis co‑responder program that pairs a mental‑health specialist with police to de‑escalate behavioral‑health calls.
Lock Haven — The city council voted to allocate $9,561.33 in remaining opioid‑settlement funds to the Center for Community Resources to sustain the crisis co‑responder program that pairs a mental‑health and addiction specialist with police officers on relevant calls.
Crisis co‑responder Eliza (Liza) Shaw described the program’s work since January, saying the co‑responder rides with officers across a range of calls — from parking complaints to domestic incidents — to de‑escalate situations, arrange transport to treatment, connect people to services and divert people from the criminal justice system when appropriate. Shaw said the role has allowed closer officer partnerships, faster access to services for people with substance use disorder and support for people experiencing homelessness.
Council members praised the program’s results and public visibility; staff noted the award comes from qualifying opioid‑settlement distributions and is allowable under the settlement’s schedule for co‑responder and alternative responder models. A motion to allocate $9,561.33 to the Center for Community Resources passed on a roll‑call vote with members present voting in favor.
Councilmembers and staff discussed that the co‑responder position has been grant‑funded and emphasized the importance of sustaining services beyond grant expiration; no additional long‑term funding decision was made at the meeting.
