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County approves $202,765 in forensic mental‑health revenue and $495,000 in provider contracts
Summary
Commissioners accepted a state‑sourced forensic mental‑health award administered through BHC and approved four provider contracts to fund forensic, jail and outpatient services paid from human‑services block grant funds.
Lawrence County commissioners on July 15 approved a revenue agreement with BHC Advanced Services Inc. to accept $202,765 in state‑allocated forensic mental‑health funds for the 2025 fiscal year and approved four provider contracts totaling $495,000 to deliver forensic and outpatient services.
Scott Baldwin, director of Mental Health and Developmental Services, told the board the $202,765 award comes from state forensic mental‑health dollars made available to the Western Region; BHC (Behavioral Health Commission of Mercer County) holds and distributes the funds to participating counties. Baldwin said the funds pay for forensic activities including evaluations and casework for people who enter the jail, short‑term housing support for people leaving custody, staff and case management. “These were dollars that the state made available to the Western Region,” Baldwin said.
The board also approved the following provider contracts (all run July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 and are paid out of human services block grant funds): - QV Alternatives, crisis case management and clinic services — $180,000. - Guiding Changes Counseling (formerly Clover Psychological) — $125,000; provides forensic therapy, in‑jail programs and group/individual therapy. - People in Need — $50,000 to offset nonbillable case‑management services (help with enrollment, insurance navigation and outreach). - SykMed Associates — $140,000 to support outpatient services, jail evaluations and trainings; clinician provides court and jail evaluations and specialized training.
Baldwin told the board that the contracts are funded from block grant dollars and would not create a county general‑fund expense; he also cautioned that the state budget remained in flux and that providers were aware the county could not pay for services until funding was processed at the state level.
The board separately moved and approved Resolution 171 (the BHC revenue contract) and then approved Resolutions 172–175 (the four provider contracts) by roll call. Recorded votes show the commissioners present voting in favor of each action.
No amendments or further direction to staff were recorded on these items at the meeting.
