Lehigh County opens family-focused recovery program in Allentown

Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol will celebrate the opening of Journeys: A Program for Children & Families on Oct. 16 in Allentown, expanding opioid settlement-funded support for children, parents and caregivers affected by substance use. The new program combines case management, recovery support and community referrals to help families access treatment, housing, childcare and other essentials.

Why it matters: - Journeys expands Lehigh County's opioid response beyond individual treatment to support children and families affected by substance use. - The program aims to help families stabilize faster by connecting them to healthcare, housing, childcare, transportation, education and recovery services. - The model is designed to reduce the burden on families that often have to navigate multiple systems at once.

What happened: - Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, in partnership with Change on Hamilton and community organizations, will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting for Journeys on Friday, Oct. 16, at 11 a.m. in Allentown. - The event will take place at 927 W. Hamilton Street and run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Guest speaker presentations begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by a complimentary lunch. - County and community leaders, Journeys partners and local organizations will offer remarks and tour the space.

The details: - Journeys is a voluntary program funded by Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol opioid settlement dollars. - The program provides case management, wraparound services and Recovery Support Services. - Services include referrals to healthcare, substance use treatment, mental health treatment, stable housing, education, childcare, transportation, baby supplies and other community resources. - Recovery Support Services include Certified Recovery Specialist services. - The program serves children, parents and caregivers through a whole-family approach. - For children, services can include early intervention, Head Start, child and family services and related supports. - For parents and caregivers, services can include treatment, recovery support, housing, transportation, physical and mental healthcare and help with basic needs. - Journeys works through a multidisciplinary network that includes Change on Hamilton, the Center for Humanistic Change, Westminster Homes of the Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office. - The program also connects with Lehigh County Children and Youth, Early Intervention, Head Start and other service providers. - The grand opening will also recognize Mommy and Me, a sober living program run by Westminster Homes of the Lehigh Valley for mothers and their children. - Initial startup funding for Mommy and Me came from opioid settlement funds through the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office. - The district attorney's office continues to fund families in the program. - The down payment for Mommy and Me's Eighth Street home came from opioid settlement dollars allocated by the district attorney's office. - Renovation costs for the home were supported by opioid settlement funds administered by Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol. - Women in Mommy and Me also access services through Journeys, creating a direct pathway between the two programs. - For more information about prevention, treatment and recovery resources, visit Rise Above Opioids. - More information about the program is available at Journeys program page.

Between the lines: - Lehigh County is using opioid settlement dollars to build a broader recovery infrastructure, not just fund treatment beds. - The county has paired clinical support with practical services that address barriers such as childcare, transportation and housing. - The inclusion of Mommy and Me suggests a pipeline between residential recovery and family-centered case management. - The county's approach reflects a view that family stability is part of long-term recovery, not a separate issue. - In 2026, the county also supported the reopening of Treatment Trends' renovated Allentown residential facility after a $1 million opioid settlement-funded renovation that restored 50 treatment beds. - Two free health-supply vending kiosks in Allentown and Slatington have recorded more than 1,000 dispenses since February, including safety supplies and Narcan. - Additional opioid settlement investments have supported recovery services, community education and the reopening and expansion of Change on Hamilton resources. - District Attorney Gavin Holihan said supporting families and children helps create stronger communities and break cycles that can continue across generations. - Program coordinator Christina Lichtenwalner said the goal is to help families take the next step without having to navigate systems alone.

What's next: - Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol plans to showcase Journeys to community partners and the public at the Oct. 16 opening. - Families can begin connecting to the program's network of services as the initiative expands its role in county recovery efforts. - The county is likely to keep using opioid settlement funds to widen access to treatment, harm reduction and family support services.

The bottom line: - Journeys turns opioid settlement money into a family-centered recovery hub that addresses both substance use and the social needs that can keep families unstable.