Westchester County DCMH Commissioner Michael Orth Appointed to Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board

Westchester County Commissioner of the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) Michael Orth has been appointed by State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins to serve on the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board.  After several initial settlements were reached with opioid manufacturers resulting in funds nearing $1 billion, the Board was established by the state legislature ensure funding was directed towards necessary programs to combat overdose and addiction. The Board was placed under the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) to provide recommendations on how funding received by the Opioid Settlement Fund would be allocated.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Westchester County is proud to share the talent of DCMH Commissioner Michael Orth with our colleagues in New York State. Commissioner Orth has been serving Westchester County for nearly 30 years in different capacities throughout our Department of Community Mental Health. There are many people across the State who face the challenges of addiction, and making sure these funds are spent appropriately is an important task. Under Michael’s leadership with our own Opioid Response committee, money is being spent across the County for treatment, prevention, recovery and harm reduction. I want to thank State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for seeing the value that Michael will bring to the discussion of the Advisory Board.”

Recommendations by the Board are required to be evidence-based, and can consider federal, state or local initiatives and activities that have shown to be effective in preventing and treating substance use disorders, as well as maintaining recovery. The Board provides their recommendations in a written report to the Governor, the temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, and the Chairs of the Senate and Assembly Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Committees by November 1 each year.

Orth said: “I want to thank Senator Stewart-Cousins for her confidence in me to serve in this important role.  I hope to bring the work we have done here in Westchester under our County Executive Ken Jenkins to the Board, and show how we have effectively allocated the funds that we have been entrusted with to make a real difference.”