Cherry Hill, Evesham/Marlton, Medford, Medford Lakes, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees and elsewhere near the iconic state highways of Routes 70 and 73.
A large part of Cherry Hill's share of the national settlement with opioid companies will be used to support a licensed mental health clinician working in the schools over two years.
Township council last week voted to make a $240,000 contribution to the district from the fund's balance of about $764,000.
"We recognize that mental health is a national problem and certainly Cherry Hill is not immune," Mayor David Fleisher said in an interview. "This is one way for us to take a bite out of that problem."
Fleisher showed up at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday to share news of the contribution.Â
New Jersey's share of the settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors and retailers is $1.1 billon through 2038, according to the Office the State Comptroller. Half goes to the state and half to counties and municipalities to address opioid use disorder and mental health conditions.
The mental-health professional will be assigned to work with high school students, Fleisher told the board.
He said the contribution is a "great example of where we have a very specific targeted need and we know the challenges of mental health."
