Bedford County Hires Full-Time Treatment Court Coordinator

Bedford County, Pennsylvania just made it easier for people battling addiction to get their lives back on track.

The county's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new full-time Treatment Court Coordinator position on February 10. President Judge Travis Livengood says the role will streamline how the court helps people struggling with substance use disorders access treatment instead of serving jail time.

For the past two years, Bedford County has operated its Treatment Court with a part-time coordinator. The new full-time position will be funded largely by the state's Opioid Settlement Trust, meaning minimal cost to local taxpayers.

The coordinator will interview people applying to the program, connect them with treatment and community resources, and track their progress. Right now, multiple agencies work with candidates, making communication complicated.

"This coordinator position pretty much is the brain, the communicator between all of those offices to make sure everything's going well," Livengood explained to the board. "This kind of becomes a more official, cost-effective way to kind of get more people treated and out into the community."

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend far beyond individual recovery stories. Keeping someone in a treatment program instead of jail saves about $100 per day in correctional facility costs.

Those savings multiply when you consider the impact on children and families. When parents can stay out of jail and get treatment while remaining close to their support systems, kids stay with their families.

"It keeps kids with their parents. It keeps people off drugs. It keeps them out of jail," Livengood said. "It's a ripple effect throughout the entire community."

Commissioner Mike Stiles emphasized the position will be 60% to 80% funded through the Opioid Settlement Trust. The hourly rate of $22 with full benefits is actually more cost-effective than the previous $25 per hour part-time arrangement.

The Treatment Court offers intensive supervision through probation officers while participants work through recovery programs. This approach gives people a real shot at building new lives free from addiction.

Applications for the new coordinator position are now open, marking the next chapter in Bedford County's commitment to addressing substance use with compassion and smart policy.