O’Hara adds social worker to provide residents another service
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A new social worker in O’Hara is helping residents access to mental health and other services.
Jalen Byrd began working in the township about a month ago.
So far, he has helped homeless people with temporary housing, assisted with several referrals from the police department and township administration and been a presence at township events.
“I’ve wanted to help people since I was a kid,” Byrd said. “It’s something I have a passion for. I’ve been doing therapy for a couple of years now. Whenever this opportunity was brought to me and work alongside officers and the township, it was something that was attractive to me.”
Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in counseling from Geneva College.
He worked at Gateway Rehab for three years prior to coming to O’Hara. He specialized in helping people with depression, drug and alcohol issues as well as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and mood disorders.
Hiring a social worker was something O’Hara officials have been looking into since at least June.
Hampton Township police Chief Thomas Vulakovich and Hampton Social Services coordinator Angela Kenbok made a presentation at an O’Hara Council meeting that month and talked about how the social worker program in Hampton has been a boon for the township.
O’Hara Manager Julie Jakubec said Kenbok was involved in the social worker hiring process. O’Hara is governed by a Home Rule charter, meaning the manager can hire and fire people without needing council approval.
Byrd, 28, of Robinson was selected out of about eight candidates.
“Jalen through the entire interview process shined,” Jakubec said. “He’s available not only to police, but all of us. He is a department unto himself.”
Byrd serves as the head of O’Hara’s human services department and works alongside the police department.
“Working with the officers and seeing what they do, how they risk their lives every single day, it allows me to do my job better,” he said about the cooperation between the departments. “Mental health is everywhere. There’s a need in every community. Impoverished communities, communities that are affluent, there’s always going to be a need (for these services).”
Byrd wants residents to know that social work is not a quick fix to whatever their possible troubles.
“Sometimes we need some time to do our own personal research to be able to provide support and serve our communities,” Byrd said. “Sometimes we need some time to go and find resources.
“My role is to be somewhat long-term with them. Some people may need my services for months. Some may need it for a week. It just varies. Have the understanding that it’s going to take time. It’s not a quick fix.”
Recently hired O’Hara Police Superintendent Jay Davis said Byrd can go on police calls depending on the circumstances. Most of his work comes through referrals.
“We do a very good job at the things we’re trained to do,” Davis said. “When it comes to law enforcement as a whole, we do a very good job.
“The problem is society as a whole has put a lot of stress on to the police departments to solve social-related problems such as drug and alcohol, mental health and things of that nature.
“Those are things we have very little training in, very little knowledge of, and we have very limited resources to give people with that.
”… Bringing Jalen aboard, the township has created another tier of services for the community as a whole. He has access to a lot of resources that as police officers we don’t. I think that’s a huge benefit, and any community as a whole would benefit from (a social worker).”
Davis, 52, a retired Peters Township police sergeant, started working for O’Hara on Aug. 3.
He has more than 30 years in law enforcement. There are 15 police officers in O’Hara’s department, all full time.
“I love my role here,” Davis said. “The guys here are fantastic. We’re really trying to create a community policing-type atmosphere here. We want our officers to be involved with our community. Involved with the residents not only on a law enforcement basis but on a day-to-day basis.”
Jakubec said Davis was selected out of about 24 candidates.
“He brings an amazing skill set,” she said. “He’s very community policing-oriented. You’ll see more and more activities coming out where our police department will be engaging the public in various fun activities. I can tell you he has true leadership.”
Interim police superintendent Ben Wolfson returned to his role as police sergeant.
Residents who are interested in Byrd’s services can contact him via email at jbyrd@ohara.pa.us or call 412-694-6439.