ACJ Hosts Substance Use Resource Fair
Published on June 25, 2025
Sandy Salensky knows firsthand the importance of substance-use treatment, overdose awareness and mental health.
As a person in long-term recovery who now works as a treatment advocate, Salensky was one of more than a dozen vendors who braved sweltering temperatures Monday, June 23, as the Allegheny County Jail hosted a “pop-up” resource fair in collaboration with the Health Department.
“(Substance use) is very stigmatized in the public eye,” said Salensky, who represents Recovery Centers of America. “Making it normalized by showing up, and talking about it, and letting people know there are resources out there and getting people connected (is important).”
The jail partners with the Health Department for resource fairs at different points throughout the year. Monday’s fair included county resources like the Overdose Prevention Program and Bureau of Clinical Services, and private companies like Tadiso and Veterans Place.
Individuals entering and leaving the jail, staff members and even folks wandering by on Second Avenue were free to engage with the vendors and pick up plenty of swag.
“The resource fair is an opportunity for community partners who provide substance use support to get information on their services to families coming into the jail, individual releasing from the jail and jail program and medical staff,” said Connie Clark, the jail’s deputy warden for programs and services.
Some of the vendors have longstanding relationships with the jail and routinely come into the facility. Veterans Place participates in Allegheny County Veterans Court and comes to the ACJ monthly to help incarcerated veterans with housing, employment and other resources they might need when they are released.
“We see a lot of addiction in unsheltered veterans, so we like to be with teams to connect and collaborate, and make sure they know we’re here,” said Kylie Bibza of Veterans Place.
While Bibza is not a veteran herself, her grandfather was, making the issue “near and dear to (her) heart.” In fact, a personal connection to these services seems to motivate many who are involved with organizations attending the resource fair.
“(Vendors) either have a loved one affected by substance use disorder or some sort of mental health thing,” Salensky said. “There’s usually some sort of background to why people want to get into this field.”
Clark said another resource fair is planned for the fall – hopefully with lower temperatures.
Media inquiries may be directed to Jesse Geleynse, Public Information Officer for the Allegheny County Jail
jesse.geleynse@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-350-1267 or 412-760-4760 (cell).