Warren County behavioral health official outlines FY24 spending, service changes and planned step-down facility
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Summary
A county behavioral health presenter said FY24 was the first year the agency spent its full budget, announced provider changes that shifted roughly 800 clients to Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services, noted rising suicide rates and described a regional 16-bed step-up/step-down facility coming to Lebanon this fall.
A presenter identified as Amy gave the Warren County commissioners an overview of the local behavioral-health board's FY24 annual report, program changes and plans to bolster crisis and prevention services.
"FY24 is the first year that we actually did spend out our budget," Amy said, describing work to balance contracts and contend with funding changes. She said the board is planning for fiscal uncertainty tied to Medicaid and potential property-tax changes and is meeting with providers to preserve mandated services.
Amy said Solutions Community Counseling, a long-time provider, closed in February and Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services has taken on roughly 800 former Solutions clients. She described an increase in suicide rates in the county and said a suicide prevention coalition with bylaws and community partners has been formed.
The board has established a data warehouse with Ascend Technologies to collect provider outcome data and improve decision-making. Amy said the board is also part of a regional project to open a 16-unit step-up/step-down facility in Lebanon, intended for people who need short-term supports but not hospital-level care; Warren-Clinton's board area will have five designated beds. Amy said the site is renovated and a provider, Tower House, is lined up; the facility is expected to begin in September.
On crisis response, Amy said the state's mobile crisis proposal could shift some services to state management; the board is preparing to have a voice in the implementation and to preserve local investments that complement statewide changes. She described the MRSS (mobile response and stabilization services) program as operating "seamlessly" in the region because Butler Behavioral Health covers Butler, Warren and Clinton under the current structure.
Amy emphasized prevention work and named local prevention providers, including Beach Acres Parenting Center, Talbot House and Safe on Main, while noting prevention services are often not billable to Medicaid and thus depend on grant or board funds.
Why it matters: The presentation outlined near-term changes in care providers and capacity, rising suicide trends, and a new regional crisis/crisis‑alternatives facility that aims to reduce pressure on hospitals, the criminal-justice system and the county crisis response network.
Amy invited commissioners to contact her with questions and said the board will continue conversations with providers and local partners to maintain sustainability amid funding uncertainty.
