Grant program to utilize $9M from opioid settlement for crisis services

By Cassie Miller – Capital-Star

HARRISBURG, PA – The Wolf administration announced this past week that more than $9 million from the commonwealth’s share of a federal opioid settlement will be used to fund grants for crisis stabilization services for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (SUD).

The state grant funding is open to eligible Single County Authorities (SCAs) to establish or expand local crisis stabilization services, which include assessment and stabilization of acute physical and psychiatric symptoms, medical management and behavioral interventions, induction on medication-assisted treatment, level-of-care assessments, short-term stays, and connections to other supportive services, the administration said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for enhanced and coordinated behavioral health services in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “This funding opportunity will make use of Pennsylvania’s share of the federal Opioid Distributor Settlement to build on our existing programs and initiatives.”

State officials said the goal of the grant program is to “provide an additional mechanism for counties to invest in infrastructure, staffing, programming, and other necessary components to establish or expand crisis stabilization services.”

“These grants will help expand or establish services to provide a much-needed component to the continuum of care; reduce the burden on first responders, law enforcement, and emergency departments, and provide timely care to individuals in need,” Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith said.