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Sarah Hildreth urges Washington County to keep WDAC as single county authority for opioid‑settlement funds
Summary
At the March 19 meeting, Sarah Hildreth, speaking for WDAC, told the Washington County commissioners that consistent, accountable recovery services save lives and asked the board to continue directing opioid‑settlement funding to WDAC; the board approved a pass‑through grant reimbursement agreement affecting WDAC.
Sarah Hildreth, speaking on behalf of WDAC, told the Washington County Board of Commissioners on March 19 that inconsistent oversight of recovery funding can mean the difference between life and death.
Hildreth described burying her father after an overdose and contrasted that loss with her brother’s recovery after he was connected to WDAC services: "When that responsibility is mishandled, people don't just fall through the cracks, they die," she said. She urged the commissioners to keep WDAC designated as the county's single county authority for opioid‑settlement funds and to ensure those dollars are used for coordinated recovery supports.
The plea came amid routine business when the board approved a pass‑through grant reimbursement agreement among the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Washington County, and WDAC. The board approved that agreement by unanimous roll call earlier in the meeting; the pass‑through mechanism allows the county to receive and pass funds to WDAC while meeting reporting requirements.
Hildreth framed the case in personal terms: she said her father lacked a sustaining system of care, while her brother, after access to WDAC supports, has been sober for 11 years. "This is life and death," she said, asking the board to "make a decision that gives more families a second chance."
The board did not debate Hildreth's remarks at length during public comment. Commissioners recorded unanimous votes on the pass‑through grant item when it came before the board earlier in the meeting.
What happens next: the pass‑through agreement authorizes Washington County to receive PCCD award funds and complete required reporting so funds can be distributed via WDAC; implementation and program-level decisions will be handled by WDAC under the terms of the grant and related agreements.
Sources: public comment by Sarah Hildreth; board agenda items and roll‑call votes recorded during the March 19, 2026 meeting.
