Washington County commissioners allocate opioid settlement cash

Shekinah Youth Ranch of the Mon Valley is one of the funding recipients.

For the MVI

During a special meeting Thursday, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved four opioid settlement-funded projects recommended by the county’s newly formed Opioid Settlement Funding Review Committee.

The committee met twice over the past two weeks to evaluate the remaining 2025 funding applications, with approximately $829,000 left to be allocated before the June 15 deadline.

Committee members are Washington County Department of Human Services Director Dr. John Tamiggi, certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor Teresa Cypher of Turning Point II, Charleroi Area School District Superintendent Ed Zelich, Washington Teen Outreach Community Coordinator Amy Podgurski- Gough and Washington County Community Foundation President and CEO Aliesha Walz.

After reviewing applications, the committee recommended six projects for consideration and tabled two others pending additional information for potential 2026 funding.

“The diverse perspectives represented on the Opioid Settlement Funding Review Committee have provided a new, valuable and transformative lens through which we now see to help address the opioid and substance use in Washington County,” said Tamiggi who serves as the chair of the committee.

Four of the six recommended projects have already been determined to be compliant with Pennsylvania Opioid Settlement Trust guidelines and were presented to the commissioners for approval at the special meeting. The remaining two projects were submitted to the trust for compliance review.

“We really wanted this committee to include people who are directly involved in recovery efforts and understand the real issues our communities are facing,” said Commissioners Chair Nick Sherman. “The members brought valuable insight to the process and weren’t afraid to ask tough questions, even tabling projects to gather more information and ensure these investments are the right fit for Washington County residents impacted by this epidemic every day.”

Among the approved projects was a $10,000 award for the Washington County Department of Human Services’ 2026 Road to Recovery Symposium, which brings together community members, service providers and stakeholders to promote education, prevention and recovery- focused strategies for individuals and families affected by opioid use disorder.

“I think part of this fight is having the conversations with the people at the center of it. The Road to Recovery Symposium has become an important event that does just that here in Washington County, and I am glad to see it continuing for a third year. Bringing people together to have these conversations helps raise awareness, share resources, and strengthen the partnerships that support individuals and families affected by substance use. This funding allows us to continue investing in education and collaboration, which are both critical to addressing this issue in our communities,” said Vice Chair Electra Janis.

The commissioners also approved $291,941 for Gateway Rehabilitation Center to make improvements at Greenbriar Treatment Center, including renovations that support therapeutic programming such as art therapy, wellness and mindfulness activities, and nutrition education. These services have been shown to improve treatment retention and strengthen recovery outcomes. In addition, Shekinah Youth Ranch of the Mon Valley received $41,000 to provide scholarships for eligible Washington County youth to attend the Trail of Grace Overnight Camp, offering mentorship, personal development opportunities and positive life experiences.

The fourth approved project utilizes the remaining unspent 2024 opioid settlement funds for the Department of Human Services to implement an integrated software system. The platform will improve case management, service referrals, provider coordination and outcome tracking, helping residents with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders access more comprehensive and coordinated care. “We need to be open and transparent with the distribution process, and this is a good start. This new opioid committee needs to be involved throughout the whole process, from application to approval,” Commissioner Larry Maggi said, explaining that this current round of applications is left over from the process that was managed by county officials without public input. “These were grants that needed to be acted on because of time limitations. Going forward the committee needs to control the whole process and then make their recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.”

The committee is expected to begin reviewing 2026 applications later this summer. The two remaining grant programs recommended by the committee will be presented to the commissioners for approval once the opioid trust issues its determination on their eligibility