In a work session Tuesday, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council agreed to put a proposal granting the city’s Fire and Emergency Services Department three new employees on the full council agenda. Their mission will be to tackle the overdose problem in the area. Maria Slone is a certified social worker with the department hired under a similar grant. She said the new employees will be a big help.
“Essentially, that social worker and the other social workers that we're hiring, are going to do that consistent follow up with our non-fatal overdoses that we've not been able to successfully do in our current program and positions because we are oversaturated.”
The three positions will be funded by a three-year grant from the U.S. Justice Department worth about 232-thousand dollars. Fire Captain Seth Lockard says he believes the jobs could receive approval by the full council by the end of the month and the new employees hired as soon as March. He said much of their work will involve knocking on doors – and listening.
“We’re all coming to you with an intent to help solve your problems and navigate you and support you in any way shape, or form. But we lacked some of that lived experience, we lacked some of that perception, that perspective.”
Grant funds will also pay for about 1,500 doses of the overdose reversal drug, Narcan.
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