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Committee accepts unanticipated OMH mobile-crisis funds, hears SAMHSA systems-of-care progress and DBT school plans
Summary
Committee accepted additional Office of Mental Health funding for the mobile crisis program and approved state-aid adjustments for mental health contractors. Staff reported national technical assistance for a SAMHSA systems-of-care grant and plans to expand dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) in local schools; continuation funding remains pending.
The Health & Human Services Committee accepted an OMH award and approved adjustments to the mental-health budget to support mobile crisis services and contract agencies.
Maureen, speaking for community services, said the Office of Mental Health provided an unanticipated award of $34,650 for the remainder of calendar 2025 to support the daytime mobile crisis program; the county also expects a recurring state-aid increase (about $138,600) to be added to the 2026 budget. "We requested to OMH. We put in a request for increase in state aid to help offset the daytime mobile crisis cost, and they surprised us with an increase in state aid," Maureen said.
The committee also approved reallocations that increase state aid revenue to local contract agencies, including counseling providers, veterans services and Liberty Resources. Members noted some adjustments were not anticipated in the 2025 budget and required a formal amendment to record increased state revenue and resulting contract increases.
Maureen reported progress on a federally funded SAMHSA systems-of-care initiative, including two days of national technical assistance and a pending year-3 continuation award. Staff said the systems-of-care work will support greater family and youth voice in program design, and that DBT (dialectical behavior therapy) training and colocation of therapists in rural schools will expand if continuation funding is approved. "We should be hearing for our SAMHSA system for care grant. Our continuation is due soon," Maureen said.
Committee members asked about staffing and administrative capacity to manage upcoming Medicaid and SNAP eligibility changes and ABOD (able-bodied adults without dependents) work requirements; staff said the administrative workload will increase and the county is monitoring changes as they phase in through 2026 and 2027. Members approved HH8–HH11 items (state-aid adjustments, mobile crisis funding acceptance and HELP-program hiring/extension requests) or bundled these items for approval as appropriate.
Key details: OMH mobile crisis FY2025 supplemental: $34,650 (unanticipated); expected OMH recurring addition to 2026 budget: $138,600; SAMHSA systems-of-care continuation pending.
— Maureen (Community Services) quoted on OMH mobile crisis funding and SAMHSA assistance.
The committee asked staff to continue monitoring federal and state funding changes and to report the operational impacts of new eligibility rules on caseload and staffing.
