$90M Boost to Ohio's Mental Health & Addiction Crisis Services Announced by Rep. Forhan

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Elliot Forhan (D-South Euclid) is pleased to announce the investment of $90 million to strengthen mental health and addiction crisis services across Ohio thanks to President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. A total of 37 regional projects will receive funding through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS).  

“Thanks to President Joe Biden’s leadership, thousands of additional Ohioans with substance use or mental health concerns will be supported and helped. While our local communities are seeking care at record levels, we want to ensure that there is adequate, effective, and responsive treatment available for every Ohioan’s needs,” said Rep. Forhan.

These initiatives will address various gaps in local crisis systems, supporting projects such as short-term residential accommodations, behavioral health urgent care facilities, mobile crisis response teams, and infrastructural improvements.

Specifically, the funding will:

• Add more than 225 new residential beds for Ohioans in crisis;
• Establish five Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinics;
• Support two new Crisis Intervention and Observation units;
• Launch six new mobile crisis services teams;
• Assist with four technology upgrade projects;
  Support two crisis consultancy projects.