The City of Shelbyville is receiving $406,898 as part of the National Opioid Settlement to support projects and improve mental health and recovery services for Hoosiers.
As part of the National Opioid Settlement, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA), in partnership with Governor Eric J. Holcomb, is awarding a total of $19 million in one-time funding to support evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction services, expand the behavioral health workforce and implement other services and initiatives across the state, to 30 local units of government, service providers, and community organizations.
“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 media 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.”
The State of Indiana is receiving approximately $507 million over an 18-year period as part of the National Opioid Settlement with distributors McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen and manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson. DMHA has developed a framework for how the State plans to use its appropriation for abatement purposes.
DMHA received 78 proposals requesting a total of $93 million in response to the grant. Local units of government were required to provide match funds in order to qualify for funding.
The grant funds will add more staff within the community to help those dealing with mental health issues, according to the City of Shelbyville’s Behavioral Health & Justice Equity Director Keyen Macklin.
The funding will add another community navigator and counselors to Major Health Partners’ staff; assist with staffing and funding for The Bridge program, a local nonprofit; add another staff member to the city’s Behavioral Health & Justice Equity department; and provide funding to assist first responders dealing with mental health issues.
The grant covers a two-year period. Macklin expects there to be more funding available in the future.
“We think so. There has not been an announcement yet,” said Macklin. “We think it will continue for sure.”
Additionally, 15 community mental health centers across the state are receiving $57 million in Crisis Receiving and Stabilization grants. These grants will support the advancement of an integrated crisis response system that provides Hoosiers experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help.
“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.”
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