• For the 16/17 Fiscal Year, there has been over a $250,000 increase to expand prevention and intervention services! •
The current allocation for these services are $1,423,005! These services focus on education, awareness, how to access help and the harms of substance abuse. These programs are occurring in our schools, communities, churches, criminal justice settings and community centers!
Our prevention and intervention services have helped to increase support groups for parents of addicted children and loved ones. Our programs and services in these areas have generated several forums, round table discussions and collaborative relationships to make connectivity and transition to get help a smoother process. Active conversations occurring amongst families and schools about what role they can take to help our community are happening presently which is progressive and productive in comparison to just a decade or two ago.
• Establishment of new service lines! •
Outreach – with the support of the Allentown Police Department (APD), this is a 7 day per week service that is targeting the Hispanic population and/or any city resident in need of treatment services. APD officers will be able to contact the Outreach worker and provide a “warm-handoff” in an effort to support the individual getting the help they need and deserve.
Foundation Services – individuals who are either waiting for an assessment or waiting to access treatment, can access “pre-treatment” daily services as a support during this time. Individuals can access these services at White Deer Run, Pyramid, Confront, Mid-Atlantic Rehabilitation Services and Northeast Treatment Center. The focus of this service to increase support, decrease hopelessness, and keep the momentum of motivation happening for the client.
Expansion of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) – all forms of MAT (Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol) are now available to residents.
Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) – as a joint collaboration between Magellan Behavioral Health and the Drug & Alcohol Department, CRS services will begin on January 1st! These services will support individuals in their recovery, navigate processes to re-establish basic needs and maintain connectivity to the recovery community. CRS will also be present as a resource to our 6 local hospitals.
Centers of Excellence – Lehigh is home to 2 Centers of Excellence: Treatment Tends, Inc. & Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley
These Centers will service as access points for individuals battling an opioid addiction and will provide System Navigators which will link the individuals with physical health providers, mental health providers, substance abuse treatment providers and support of non-treatment needs.
• Creation of new partnerships! •
Allentown Police Department
Cetronia Ambulance Corps
City of Allentown Paramedics
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Sacred Heart Hospital
St. Luke’s University Health Network
Spotlight on SADD!
The Annual Lehigh Valley SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Conference was held on March 26, 2010 at Lehigh Valley Hospital. This year, the SADD chapters involved in the conference prepared videos on the subject of distracted and other dangerous driving. The conference had an "American Idol" theme, as the judges critiqued the videos as they were presented. The SADD Chapters also talked about how they used social media to get their message out and exchanged ideas for how to do this most effectively. Bravo to these students and all of their hard work!
Click here to watch their videos!
Willing to Take a Stand!
On October 15, 2010, members of the Southern Lehigh High School and Catasauqua High School SADD Chapters attended the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s press conference that kicked off of a widespread public awareness campaign that emphasizes distracted driving, in particular cell phone use and text messaging. The campaign features a series of billboard ads, radio ads and yard signs that drive home messages about the dangers of participating in text messaging while driving.
“As the region’s leading healthcare provider and as a Level I Trauma Center, our health network witnesses the consequences of distracted driving all too often,” said Elliot Sussman, M.D., LVHN’s president and CEO. “We hope our new awareness campaign will make people think twice before they use their cell phones while driving and that by educating our community, we can prevent a visit to our trauma center after a tragic crash caused by distracted driving.”
Catasauqua High School SADD Chapter!
Southern Lehigh SADD Chapter!
Other program spotlights can be found by visiting our Facebook page "County Of Lehigh Drug and Alcohol"