The entrance to One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown, where many county offices are housed. (Photo courtesy Montgomery County Commissioners)
Nearly $4.9 million was authorized by Montgomery County commissioners to finance nearly a dozen contracts at the board’s November meeting.
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services took up the lion’s share of awarded contracts earlier this week, covering substance abuse prevention and youth health care.
Three agreements dedicated to services designed to prevent instances of youth substance abuse had nearly $2.7 million allocated in the 11-item package.
A $1.2 million contract with the Norristown-based Family Services of Montgomery County “provides coordinate services for the Montgomery County Alliance for Prevention, which is a coalition of the current youth substance use prevention coalitions, to provide technical assistance on best practices related to youth substance use prevention coalition operations and coordinate a variety of other community prevention initiatives aimed at restricting youth access to substances through local leader education and policy change.”
Family Services of Montgomery County was one of six firms to submit bids to a previously advertised request for proposals. The contract will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, according to county officials.
Another $853,907 agreement with Family Services of Montgomery County was geared toward youth and family services, with a coordinator of community prevention brought on to introduce activities “to supplement the youth classroom education occurring within schools.”
“These activities will disseminate information on various substance use prevention and mental health topics to youth and families within Montgomery County,” the contract states.
The Norristown nonprofit was one of three firms to submit bids to a previously advertised request for proposals. The contract was funded through “gambling funds” and a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services block grant.
Additionally, a $610,000 agreement with Child Guidance Resource Centers of Havertown, Delaware County, covered “evidence-based parent education sessions for parents and youth throughout Montgomery County.”
“EBP parent programs have been proven to improve family communication around substance use expectations for youth,” the contract states.
The Delaware County nonprofit was one of three firms to submit bids to a previously advertised request for proposals related to the contract, which was financed through a Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs “gambling” funds and a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services block grant.
The contracts will last 2.5 years, according to county officials. Terms for all three contracts stipulate two optional one-year renewal periods, for a maximum service period of 4.5 years; however, the contract states it’s “based on availability of state and federal funds.” The contract was supported through opioid settlement funds.
An existing health care services contract with the Harrisburg-based PrimeCare Medical Inc. was renewed for roughly $381,582 to cover related services at the county’s youth center for 2026. Funding came from the county’s general-operational budget.
A $1.03 million agreement with National Medical Services of Willow Grove was again renewed, providing drug testing and forensic toxicology services for the Montgomery County Coroner’s and District Attorney’s offices. The coroner’s office was allocated $195,000 and the district attorney’s office recorded $840,000, according to the contract.
Toxicology services for several county departments were also procured with a $262,000 agreement with the Redwood Toxicology Laboratory, Inc., of Santa Rosa, California.
“Services and supplies are available through a Sourcewell cooperative contract,” the contract states, with eligibility through 2026.
The “toxicology testing services and testing supplies” will go to the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Children and Youth, along with Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation, Pre-Trial Services, and treatment courts.
The contract was funded through the county’s general-operational budget and allocated to the following agencies: $135,000 for treatment courts, $47,000 for children and youth, $40,000 each for adult and juvenile probation, and $500 for pre-trial services.
The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, on the eighth floor of One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede St., Norristown. Those interested in attending the meeting can do so virtually. Visit montgomerycountypa.gov for more information.
