Union County directs $92,000 opioid settlement to trafficking survivors’ services

Union County commissioners moved $92,000 in opioid settlement money to Transitions of PA, giving the Lewisburg crisis center new support for trafficking survivors and people fleeing violence.

The award goes beyond a routine grant. Commissioners chose to use money from nationwide opioid settlements, funds negotiated from drug manufacturers to address the broader damage caused by opioid abuse, for advocacy and workforce training tied to recovery support. The county still has about $220,000 left in its opioid settlement fund for future projects, so the decision also shows how leaders are balancing urgent local needs against the chance to save dollars for later use.

Transitions of PA serves Union, Snyder and Northumberland counties and describes itself as a crisis center that provides advocacy, empowerment and education to victims, survivors, families and communities working to end patterns of violence and abuse. Its trafficking services fall under PAATH 15, a regional collaboration for labor and sex trafficking victims along Route 15 in Pennsylvania. The agency also offers 12 individual one-on-one counseling sessions at no cost to adult survivors, along with housing programs that rely on referrals through PA 2-1-1, HMIS and Coordinated Entry System assessments.

That local service mix is what gives the funding its impact. In a county where small nonprofits often absorb heavy caseloads, the money can help expand direct assistance for residents who need help stabilizing after trauma, including housing referrals, case coordination, work readiness and longer-term support. Earlier reporting said Transitions had asked Union County for between $50,000 and $92,425 for the effort, which means commissioners approved the request at the top end of that range.

The county’s move also fits into Pennsylvania’s wider opioid settlement structure. The commonwealth is expected to receive more than $1.5 billion over 18 years from settlements dating to August 2022, with 70% flowing to counties, 15% to the state and 15% to litigating subdivisions. The Pennsylvania Opioid Settlement Data project says the first county reporting period ran from August 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023, underscoring that Union County’s decision is part of a long-running statewide allocation process, not a one-time infusion.