Governor Wolf Announces Recipients of $28 Million to Support Community Mental Health Resources
The Northwest Pennsylvania (NW PA) Veteran Suicide Prevention Program operates on a three-pronged approach involving healthcare providers, community organizations, and Veterans and their families. The PA Department of Human Services (DHS) is an active partner and responsible for providing the Program with Medicaid/Medicare claims data from related healthcare systems to develop a Veteran suicide attempt surveillance process. PA-DHS also works with us to develop financial and service-related policies that support Veteran suicide reduction.
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or would like to know more about how this funding impacts NW PA communities.
Read time: 4 minutes
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced that 30 counties have received nearly $28 million in additional federal funding to enhance their behavioral health programs.
Administered through the Department of Human Services (DHS), this one-time funding was granted to states through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 in combination with funds from Pennsylvania’s annual Community Mental Health Services Block Grant award.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us, and our lives have undergone a lot of change over the past two years that may bring about new or exacerbate existing mental health challenges,” said Gov. Wolf. “This enhanced federal funding for mental health resources will allow more of our fellow Pennsylvanians – including our family members, friends, and neighbors – to get the behavioral and mental health support they need.”
“These federal grants will help counties enhance their services to respond to the most vulnerable members of our communities, including children in grades K-12 and those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis,” said DHS Acting Secretary Snead “With this investment, we are working toward our goal of making the commonwealth a place where everyone can be safe, healthy, and thrive.”
The grants will target specific statewide priorities, including mobile crisis mental health services, telehealth, student assistance programs, start-up funding for residential treatment services and assisted outpatient treatment, and additional crisis services projects. These projects include walk-in and remote crisis supports, expanding crisis, respite, and residential care capacity, and enhanced collaboration with law enforcement to assist with crisis response.
Project areas and applicants receiving funding include:
- Mobile Crisis Units (Nine projects): Allegheny County, Beaver County, Blair County, Carbon/Monroe/Pike Counties, Centre County, Delaware County, Lackawanna/Susquehanna Counties, Lancaster County, and Westmoreland Counties;
- Additional Crisis Services (21 projects): Allegheny County, Armstrong/Indiana Counties, Berks County, Bucks County, Carbon/Monroe/Pike Counties, Centre County, Chester County, Dauphin County, Erie County, Lackawanna/Susquehanna Counties, Lancaster County, Lehigh County, Lycoming/Clinton Counties. Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Washington County, Wayne County, 8 County Regional (Centre, Clearfield/Jefferson, Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata, Northumberland, and Schuylkill Counties);
- Assisted Outpatient Treatment Start-Up (Three projects): Bucks County, Carbon/Monroe/Pike Counties, Dauphin County;
- Residential Services Start-up (Two projects): Carbon/Monroe/Pike Counties and Delaware County;
- Telehealth Capacity (Two projects): Bradford/Sullivan Counties and Columbia/Montour/Snyder/Union Counties; and,
- Student Assistance Program (Nine projects): Armstrong/Indiana Counties, Bedford/Somerset Counties, Blair County, Cameron/Elk Counties, Cumberland/Perry Counties, Dauphin County, Lycoming/Clinton Counties, Montgomery County, and Washington County.
For more information about mental health resources, please visit the DHS website.
Looking to Get Involved?
Whether you identify as a healthcare provider, community organization, or Veteran, there are several opportunities through the NW PA Veteran Suicide Prevention Program and PERU to connect to resources, participate in educational training, and promote harm reduction strategies. We are actively recruiting healthcare and community partners to work with us in meeting our goals and objectives. To learn more, visit the program website at theresilientveteran.org.
Need Help? Know Someone Who Does? Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use the online Lifeline Crisis Chat. Both are free and confidential. You’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area.
