Centre County discusses regional 16‑bed mental‑health residence and joins remnant opioid settlement round

Kathy, the county’s MH/ID/EI/Drug & Alcohol representative, told the board the department’s FY2024–25 human‑services block grant income and expenditure report totals $8,159,234 and that the county match portion is $290,300. She asked for same‑day approval to meet state deadlines and the board approved the submission.

Kathy also asked the board to participate in the remnant round of the national opioid settlement administered by the national administrator. She said the remnant package consolidates six remaining defendants and that Centre County’s estimated share would be about $26,846.35 if the county submits the required paperwork and opts in. “The estimate coming out of the settlement documents is that Centre County should expect to receive about $26,846.35,” Kathy said. The board voted to participate and authorized the chair to sign related documents.

The department presented an addendum to a memorandum of understanding among 24 counties to implement a 16‑bed long‑term structured residence (LTSR) for individuals with persistent serious mental illness who have been involved with the criminal justice system. Kathy said the addendum changes the fiduciary county from Northumberland to a group of non‑block‑grant counties (Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union) to waive the county match requirement. “If the fiduciary is a non‑block grant county, the county match is waived,” Kathy said. She told the board the change avoids county match obligations and that the LTSR will serve as an intermediate, locked residential placement (not permanent) with more intensive nursing and psychiatry than typical residential programs.

Kathy noted the LTSR will initially have 16 beds and serve a 24‑county catchment area; she said administrators hope this regional approach will increase capacity. The board supported the MOU addendum and related steps to finalize fiduciary responsibilities.

The department also presented several contract renewals and addenda: a $54,660 contract renewal with Advocacy Alliance (county match $2,520), addenda increasing Crossroads Counseling’s allocation by $142,416 (new max for a six‑month period $214,916) and a $12,654 addendum for PA Care LLC (d/b/a State College Medical). All items were approved or placed on the consent agenda as presented.

Next steps and context: staff will submit the opioid‑settlement participation paperwork and finalize the MOU/fiduciary arrangements for the LTSR. Commissioners and staff noted the region still needs more residential capacity and that the LTSR is intended as an intermediate placement to reduce state‑hospital wait lists.