Commissioner Whisenhunt attends national opioid roundtable
Forsyth County Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt was in Washington, D.C. sharing the local efforts to combat the epidemic of opioid addiction at a national roundtable on Friday, Nov. 16.
The roundtable discussed the current challenges of the nationwide opioid crisis and possible solutions to address and prevent substance abuse. Participants included commissions and staff of 12 counties from across the nation, along with NACo staff and representatives from health insurance company Aetna, who was a co-sponsor for the event.
During her visit Whisenhunt shared the county’s many efforts to help those struggling with addiction like the Stepping Up Process to End Recidivism (SUPER), a yearlong program that gives incarcerated women with mental illness and drug abuse issues support services after release. A new District Attorney’s Treatment Alternative (DATA) program for pre adjudicated inmates recently began, which uses the drug Vitriol to help them fight addiction as they’re released into treatment programs. The efforts also include the Veterans Treatment Court, the Mental Health Court and the Forsyth County Opioid Task Force, which brings together difference agencies that deal with opioids to share information and coordinate the efforts.
“It’s not something that you can cure overnight, but I do think that we have good programs in place to address it that are doing some good work,” said Whisenhunt.
Whisenhunt is on the national Board of Directors for NACo, a position she was elected to by her fellow county commissioners from across the state. She also serves on the county’s Consolidated Human Services Board, which advises the Public Health Department and Social Services.
Forsyth County Commissioner Fleming El-Amin has been selected by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve on the N.C. Code Officials Qualifications Board
El-Amin was appointed to the board as an elected official representing a county with a population greater than 40,000. The board certifies Code Enforcement Officials in North Carolina and hears any complaints filed against them. No inspector in North Carolina may enforce the State Building Code without being certified by the Qualification Board.
“The opportunity to learn more about State government and the decision making processes that impact code inspectors is very interesting and educational,” said El-Amin.
The 20 member board is made of engineers, inspectors, contractors, architects, educators, and city, county, and state officials. The N.C. Department of Insurance’s Engineering Division provides technical and administrative staff to the board and investigates complaints on its behalf. El-Amin’s term will expire on June 30, 2022.
As a County Commissioner since 2016, El-Amin also serves on a number of boards here in Forsyth County, including vice-chair of the consolidated Department of Social Services and Department of Public Health. He is also the president of the American Coalition for Good Government.
