Adams County outlines ARPA-funded behavioral health investments, new co-responder model and planned detox center

Adams County officials described recent investments in behavioral health funded in part by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, including a new detox/crisis center planning effort and expanded co-responder teams embedded in the sheriff’s office.

Why it matters: Commissioners and the sheriff said the county is addressing gaps in crisis care, co-responder services and behavioral-health access that have been exposed since local facilities closed.

Commissioner (name not specified in transcript) summarized county ARPA spending: the county received $101,000,000, with roughly $35,000,000 directed to direct services including food assistance, rental and mortgage relief and behavioral health programs. “So the first about $35,000,000 went to directly to services for our residents,” the commissioner said.

Sheriff Gene Claps described ramping up a local crisis and detox center after a prior facility closed, building an in-house co-responder program and converting contracted positions into county employees. “We canceled that contract, and we brought that co-responders in house,” he said, adding the county now employs seven co-responders plus a supervisor and plans to add case managers to support the team’s caseload.

County leaders said additional behavioral-health investments have involved the health department, the district attorney and other partners. Officials urged use of 988 and regional crisis resources while the county scales its services.

Ending: Officials said the co-responder model is growing and that they will continue to evaluate needs and funding; no formal vote or ordinance was recorded at the meeting.