By 1808Delaware
In a significant move aimed at bolstering mental health and addiction services, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced a $90 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act. Administered by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), these funds are earmarked for 37 regional projects across the state. Delaware County, a community not immune to the challenges of mental health and addiction, stands to benefit from two, possibly three, of these projects.
Capital and Infrastructure Projects
The OhioMHAS, in collaboration with county Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Boards, will oversee the distribution and coordination of these grants. The planning process mandated that Boards collaborate with local stakeholders, including service providers, law enforcement agencies, and hospitals, to identify gaps in their regional crisis systems. The outcome is a well-thought-out allocation of funds for both capital improvement and infrastructure projects.
Specifically, $74.5 million will be directed towards 26 capital improvement projects, while $15.5 million will fund 11 infrastructure projects. These projects aim to close locally identified gaps in care, such as the lack of short-term residential beds, behavioral health urgent care facilities, mobile crisis response teams, and technology infrastructure.
“Across Ohio, people of all ages and their families are seeking care in record numbers for substance use and mental health concerns,” said Governor DeWine. “I am proud of the work we are doing in Ohio to make services more visible, accessible and effective for all Ohioans faced with mental health and substance use crises. By expanding access to a full array of crisis services, more Ohioans of all ages will receive the care they need in their local community so that they can recover and reach their full potential.”
What Delaware County Can Expect
Delaware County, like many other communities, faces its own unique set of challenges when it comes to mental health and addiction services. The funding will address several key areas:
- Residential Beds: Over 225 new residential beds will be added for Ohioans in crisis
- Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinics: Five new clinics will be established statewide, providing immediate care for behavioral health issues.
- Mobile Crisis Services Teams: Six new teams will be launched to provide on-the-spot crisis intervention
- Technology Upgrades: Four projects aimed at technology upgrades will also be funded, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of mental health services.
Specifically, local funding is going to:
- Delaware-Morrow Mental Health & Recovery Services Board – Delaware, Morrow Counties – $1,360,300
- Mental Health & Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties – Licking, Knox, Delaware Counties – $3,000,000
- ADAMH Board of Franklin County – Franklin and Possibly Delaware Counties – $710,241
The Long-Term Impact: Filling the Gaps in Mental Health Care
The funding comes at a critical time when the demand for mental health and addiction services is at an all-time high. For Delaware County, the grants represent not just an influx of financial resources but also an opportunity for community transformation. By addressing the gaps in mental health and addiction services, the county can offer more comprehensive and immediate care to its residents.
“Because of these investments, more Ohioans and their families will have a better response to their behavioral health crisis needs than ever before,” said OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss. “With these projects, Ohio is taking a leap forward to reverse decades of neglect for Ohio’s behavioral health crisis care system, ultimately creating a more hopeful future for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.”
The projects funded by this grant are expected to have a long-lasting impact, setting the stage for a more robust mental health and addiction services infrastructure in Delaware County and beyond. As these projects come to fruition, they will undoubtedly serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges.
Strengthening crisis services at the community level is an ongoing priority for the department. Learn more about OhioMHAS’ crisis work HERE
