About Our Committees

Are you interested in joining a committee? Click on the FAQs below to learn about the priorities and projects for each of our committees.

Fill out our New Member Form to be contacted about joining an SOS Berks Committee!

What does the Community Safety Committee do?

The Community Safety Committee will focus their efforts to enhance community safety regarding Substance Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, and overdose. 

Their key priorities include:​

  • Naloxone education and distribution.​
  • Medication disposal bags, and education and distribution of medication disposal bags. ​
  • Medication and prescription take back programs.

Committee members include:

  • Law Enforcement​
  • Criminal Justice​
  • First Responders ​
  • Other agencies or organizations that have direct contact with individuals with high risk for overdose and /or OUD.​

Accomplishments include:

  • Outreach in areas with high overdose rates
  • Partnering with Penn State to bring a Health to Go vending machine to Reading
  • Partnering with Helping Harvest to distribute Narcan and other resources
What does the Healthcare and Treatment Committee do?

The Healthcare and Treatment Committee will incorporate efforts that touch both the healthcare and treatment/recovery sectors of Berks County. 

Key priorities include:

  • Increasing Recovery Support​ and Medication Assisted Treatment​
  • Expanding Warm Hand Off

Projects include:

  • Created No Wrong Door policy with contracted providers to help get clients placed, even if not within their facility
  • Made Narcan kits available at Reading/Tower Health emergency department.
  • Expanded Warm Hand Off  program to 24/7 at Tower Health and on-call at Penn State/St. Joe’s Tower Health.
What does the Community Awareness and Outreach Committee do?

The Community Awareness and Outreach Committee will focus on increasing overall community awareness about the overdose epidemic and coalition efforts throughout Berks County. 

Key priorities include:

  • Increasing community awareness and education regarding addiction, prevention, treatment and recovery.​
  • Manage marketing and information dissemination efforts of the coalition.

Projects include:

  • Created informational postcards, posters, flyers and promotional materials.
  • Maintain SOS Berks website
  • Ran a multimedia stigma reduction campaign that featured video testimonials from Berks County individuals in long-term recovery
  • Oversaw the SOS Berks Mural project.
What does the Prevention and Education Committee do?

The Prevention and Education Committee will focus on coordinating and performing SUD/OUD specific prevention and education opportunities in the county.  

Their key priorities include:

  • Substance Use and Opioid Use prevention and education programming.

Projects include:

  • Community education and Narcan trainings
  • Outreach at community events including the Oley Fair & Reading Pride Festival
  • Organizing Recovery Simulation events
What does the Data Collection and Assessment Committee do?

The Data Collection and Assessment Committee focuses on collecting and analyzing data from various entities in Berks County. 

Key priorities include:

  • To assist other subcommittees on current initiatives and future actions by presenting information and analysis.

Projects include:

  • ​Data analysis of 911 calls, treatment services, coroner reports and Tower Health Narcan distribution
  • Data has guided outreach efforts
What does the Editorial Board do?

The Editorial Board oversees the publication of the SOS Berks Response Magazine, which offers timely articles on:

  • Opioids and other substances
  • Stigma reduction
  • Available resources for prevention, treatment and recovery of substance use disorder

Projects include:

  • Since Winter 2018, 10 issues have been published, with a print circulation of 3,500+ and 4,500+ online impressions.
  • An emerging partnership with Palo magazine will ensure that vital information reaches Berks County’s Spanish speaking population.