In December 2025, the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust’s Board of Trustees raised serious concerns about how Washington County has been using its opioid settlement funding. Eight applications submitted by the County were deemed non-compliant with funding requirements, while another nine remained under consideration. Alongside these determinations, the Board offered pointed critiques of the County’s broader approach—making it clear that something needs to change.
Those concerns came to a head on March 13, when Washington County Department of Human Services (DHS) officials appeared before the Trust’s Dispute Resolution Committee to defend the flagged applications. Originally, eight applications were set to be reviewed. However, one proposal—a resource officer position for Canon-McMillan School District—was withdrawn prior to the hearing. That left seven applications for DHS to defend.
DHS argued in support of these remaining proposals, which was followed by extensive questioning from the Board of Trustees. The applications were questioned on multiple fronts: whether the proposed programs were evidence-based, whether they met eligibility requirements under the Trust’s guidelines, and, in some cases, whether they were meaningfully connected to addressing opioid use disorder at all.
By the conclusion of the process, four of the seven defended applications were denied. Combined with the earlier withdrawal, that brings the total to five denied applications out of the original eight.
The denied proposals are:
- L.O.Y.A.L. After School Programming
- Leadership Development LLC – 911 Training
- Regola Consulting – Grant Management
- The Hill Group – Washington County OUD Services Assessment
- Canon McMillan Resource Officer
Notably, DHS leadership acknowledged during the hearing that two of these applications—Regola Consulting and The Hill Group—were tied to the County’s efforts to assume control of the Single County Authority (SCA) from the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC). This raised additional questions about whether opioid settlement funds are being used improperly to support administrative restructuring rather than for direct services as intended.
Three applications were ultimately approved:
- Jeff Hancher Enterprises – Success Readiness Framework
- Shekinah Youth Ranch of the Mon Valley – Youth Prevention Program
- Washington STEAMworks
The financial implications of these denials are significant. The total value of the rejected applications exceeds $323,000. Under the terms of the opioid settlement, those funds must now be redirected to projects that align with Exhibit E—the Trust’s official guidance outlining allowable uses of the funding.
However, a major complication remains: much of this funding has already been distributed to the original recipients. It is currently unclear how Washington County will recover these funds or repurpose them in compliance with the Trust’s requirements. This situation underscores the broader concerns raised by the Board of Trustees in December. Washington County’s approach to managing opioid settlement funds has not only drawn scrutiny—it has now resulted in concrete setbacks that could delay or diminish the impact of these critical resources.
Additionally, on March 17, the County received a delinquency notice from the PA Opioid Trust for both failing to submit their funding report on time and for providing inadequate material once submitted. These management issues continue to reinforce that it would be irresponsible, along with potentially dangerous, to permit DHS to take control of the Single County Authority from the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission.
Washington County has taken initial steps to reset its process. Earlier this year, a new “Request for Proposals” (RFP) was issued for a fresh round of funding. Additionally, a Washington County Opioid Board has been established to guide future decisions.
This new structure presents an opportunity—but also a clear responsibility. Moving forward, the Board must prioritize transparency, accountability, and adherence to evidence-based practices. The stakes are too high for anything less. Opioid settlement funds represent a once-in-a-generation investment in addressing the devastating impacts of the opioid crisis. Missteps in how these funds are allocated not only undermine public trust, but also risk wasting resources that are urgently needed to save lives.
To date, no other county in Pennsylvania has faced this level of challenge in administering its opioid settlement funding. That distinction should serve as a warning. Washington County now stands at a critical turning point. Whether it can course-correct—and ensure these funds are used effectively and responsibly—remains to be seen.