Milford Prevention Coalition updates commission on opioid-settlement-funded prevention work

Representatives of the Milford Prevention Coalition briefed the Beaver County Commission on June 2 about how county-allocated opioid-settlement and other prevention funds have been used to build local programming and partnerships.

Amanda Floyd, president of the Beaver County Coalition, and Ron Hutchings, the coalition coordinator, said county funding helped hire a part-time Milford coordinator and develop a data-driven local action plan focused on risk and protective factors. "We were able to hire Melanie Coburn," the presenters said, crediting her work with strengthening school and community partnerships and expanding programs such as the Guiding Good Choices parenting classes.

The presenters described multiple small grants and program activities (youth trainings, messaging campaigns, parent classes) and said the coalition is preparing applications for larger grants. They noted a pending DSD/community readiness application that, if funded, would provide an estimated $125,000 per year for five years for substance-use prevention; the coalition expects to hear by October.

Commissioners thanked coalition members for sustained efforts and for leveraging county funding to attract additional resources. The presentation concluded with the coalition presenting a token of appreciation to commissioners for ongoing fiscal support.