North Central Indiana programs will receive grants resulting from funds allocated to the state of Indiana from the National Opioid Settlement and federal American Rescue Plan Act.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction is allocating more than $76 million to help build projects around the state that address mental health and recovery services for residents in need.
Thirty local units of government will receive part of $19 million in one-time funding from the DMHA in partnership with the office of Gov. Eric Holcomb. This funding is a result of the National Opioid Settlement and supports prevention, treatment and recovery services, along with expansion of the behavioral health workforce and other initiatives.
“While the state has a role to play in the fight against the drug epidemic, real change happens at the local level,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director for drug prevention, treatment and enforcement for the state of Indiana, in a press release. “Any time we have an opportunity to infuse more dollars into a community for the benefit of Hoosiers, we take advantage of it. These funds will go a long way toward building out the care continuum and improving outcomes for Hoosiers with substance use disorders and mental health needs.”
DMHA received 78 proposals requesting a total of $93 million in matching grant funds. Twenty-eight counties will benefit, including the following projects:
- The Community Foundation of Pulaski County Inc.: $402,800 to hire a prevention coordinator, establish a drug court and expand Intrepid Phoenix paramedicine services
- Our Lady of the Road in St. Joseph County: $2,562,700 for the Motels 4 Now program
Thirty projects were outlined in the FSSA's Opioid Settlement Match Grant Awardee Overview.
The state also announced $57 million in Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Services grants that will benefit 15 community health centers in the state.
“Crisis receiving and stabilization services are critical to providing crisis services,” said Jay Chaudhary, director of the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. “Currently, too many Hoosiers experiencing a mental health crisis end up in emergency departments or county jails. These grants will help bridge gaps and offer a therapeutic and compassionate alternative pathway for individuals and communities in crisis.”
Regional projects include:
- Oaklawn Psychiatric Center in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties: $3,859,769 to establish a Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Services Program
- Porter-Starke Services Inc. in Porter and Starke counties: $4,262,825 to expand its Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Services Program
- Valley Oaks Health in Jasper and Newton counties, among others: $4,633,261 for a new Crisis Receiving and Stabilization Services Program
The state of Indiana will receive about $507 million during an 18-year timeframe as a result of the National Opioid Settlement with distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen, and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson. The state has a detailed plan for how funds will be used.
