Orange County committee approves full-time peer support coordinator for first responders

The Orange County Personnel and Compensation Committee voted to create a full-time program coordinator position to run a first-responder peer support program, Chair announced after a voice vote on request #296. Funding was identified as coming from the Department of Mental Health Opioid Settlement Fund and the position was described as grade 15.

Commissioner of Emergency Services Peter Serigliano, the item’s presenter, said the county surveyed fire, EMS, law enforcement and dispatch and “overwhelmingly, the survey came back that they need it and they want it.” He cited recent incidents—including two fatal car crashes and the Greenville Lake fire—where peer support was requested on scene, and argued that discipline-specific peer responders (for firefighters, dispatchers and law enforcement) make support more effective. “Confidentiality is a huge huge piece of this,” Serigliano said, adding the coordinator would help train volunteers and coordinate outreach with nonprofit and clinical partners.

Committee members voiced support during the discussion. One member said peer support helps first responders who “have to be stronger than they really are” and welcomed services for family members as well as first responders. The chair asked for a motion and invoked members Kathy and Kevin Darren; after a voice vote in which members said “Aye,” the chair declared the motion carried. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The action creates the coordinator role and authorizes use of the opioid settlement funds to pay for it. No implementation timeline or hiring date was stated on the record; the committee moved to other business and then adjourned.