Barry County officials warn prevention funding is uncertain after federal budget proposal

Liz Lentz, coordinator of the Barry County substance abuse task force and prevention supervisor for the Barry County Community Mental Health Authority, told the Barry County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 that a proposed federal budget has eliminated major prevention funding and left a large continuation grant unresolved as the county approaches the Oct. 1 fiscal-year start.

The presentation centered on the Partnership for Success continuation award and other prevention funds. Lentz said the county had submitted required budgets in January but, as of her remarks on Aug. 26, had not received a signed notice of award in ERA Commons. “As I mentioned, it's certainty, and nothing is for sure,” she said, adding that she had checked the grant database that morning and the continuation notice of award “still remains unmoved.”

The uncertainty stems from differences between the president’s budget proposal, which Lentz said would eliminate some federal prevention funding, and language in appropriations measures that would maintain it. Lentz told commissioners the county has roughly three weeks to monitor federal and state action before Oct. 1 and urged local advocacy to federal legislators. “We have 21 days left,” she said.

Lentz reviewed how local prevention programming is funded and how the county would adjust if grant dollars are reduced. She said Barry County currently draws from a mix of sources, including a federal block grant routed through regional behavioral health partners, a Partnership for Success grant (the large continuation award discussed), time-limited response grants she identified as SOR-style opioid-response funding, local liquor-tax proceeds, local grants, and county-managed marijuana oversight funds. She said Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health (referred to in the meeting as SWIMBA) and other partners also provide time-limited support.

Lentz described the practical consequences if prevention activities are reduced: outreach, early intervention and distribution of harm-reduction supplies could be curtailed. “Prevention is so unique, because we don't see what it stops because it doesn't happen,” she said. She noted the task force has distributed more than 1,500 Narcan kits so far this year and said the county does not systematically track how many of those kits were used.

Commissioners asked about downstream effects on referrals and residential services. Lentz said she could not speak for treatment providers and that local agencies have submitted budgets as required; she warned that a funding shortfall would likely “trickle down” and could affect service availability for partners such as residential providers. She said the task force is pursuing other funding sources, re-prioritizing services to protect highest-impact work, and engaging local partners to sustain suicide-prevention and school-based programs.

Lentz said next steps are to continue monitoring federal and state appropriations and to report back to the board with any updates in October. She said the task force will continue scheduling services for October and November as usual while awaiting final federal decisions.

A commission member thanked Lentz for the update, and board members signaled interest in further information should the notice of award remain unsigned.