AHS outlines S.36 plan to merge stabilization beds, expand residential care and add correctional residential treatment

The Agency of Human Services (AHS) presented a multi‑part strategy to the Senate Health & Welfare Committee on Feb. 27 to expand Vermont’s continuum of care for people with substance use disorder, with specific budget and program proposals the agency said it would include in this year’s budget and related bills.

For the record, Jenny Samuelson, AHS secretary, led the presentation and said the agency’s proposals reflect a year of cross‑agency work and discussions with people with lived experience, providers, law enforcement and the judiciary. “With the emergence of stimulants and particularly with polypharmacy, we are beginning to see many, many more individuals and many more communities impacted,” Samuelson said, describing changes in the substance supply that affect treatment needs.

Key elements of the AHS package presented to the committee include:

- Crisis stabilization: Rebuild and merge existing public inebriate beds with mental‑health stabilization beds to improve staffing efficiency and provide co‑occurring care. AHS said the merged model would help address staffing shortages that have forced…