The 2024-25 budget proposal includes $35 million to fund county mental health programs, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and crisis walk-in centers
Butler, PA – Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh today visited the Center for Community Resources, a non-profit human services provider that, among other things, operates a 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center as well as behavioral health crisis response services. Secretary Arkoosh and leadership from the Center for Community Resources highlighted major behavioral health investments in Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 proposed budget, which will provide much-needed funding for life-saving and life-sustaining mental health, substance use disorder, and crisis services across the Commonwealth.
“All Pennsylvanians deserve timely access to compassionate treatment for mental health issues and substance use disorders delivered in an appropriate setting. When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, they need someone to talk to, someone to respond, and somewhere to go, but unfortunately, behavioral health services are not available in every community,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “This year’s proposed budget demonstrates the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to building and maintaining a robust behavioral health system that will help Pennsylvanians get quickly connected to care in their communities and that will support the dedicated, skilled professionals who assist those needing services.”
The proposed 2024-25 budget includes an additional $20 million for county mental health base funding for the second year in a row, an investment that supports services in every community of the Commonwealth and access to life-saving behavioral health services for uninsured and underinsured Pennsylvanians. Last year’s $20 million investment was the first new money to counties since 2008, and this additional investment continues Governor Shapiro’s commitment to support and reinforce this life-saving system of care.
Building on last year’s $5 million investment in the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the 2024-25 budget includes $10 million in state funding to support Pennsylvania’s 12 call centers and the trained, dedicated professionals who are available 24/7 to talk and text with Pennsylvanians who contact the Lifeline for help.
The budget also includes investments in crisis response, including $5 million to establish, increase, and maintain walk-in mental health crisis centers, with a focus on geographic areas that may not have a center. Walk-in centers play a pivotal role in providing immediate, accessible, and specialized care for individuals undergoing a mental health crisis. While more than 90 percent of 988 calls on average in Pennsylvania can be resolved over the phone, there are times when in-person support is needed to assist a person in crisis. This funding will support a robust and responsive network of local crisis response teams that are able to be deployed if person calls 988 or a local crisis hotline and needs urgent, life-saving, in-person support.
Center for Community Resources, Inc. (CCR), headquartered in Butler, Pennsylvania, is a statewide non-profit human services provider founded in 2002. The mission of CCR is to make a positive difference in everyday lives by connecting people to a network of supports and services essential for actively learning, working, and living in the community. CCR is an integrated point of contact working in collaboration with other human service agencies to identify needs in the community and effectively respond to assist anyone seeking help. CCR operates a 988 statewide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center and provides crisis services in 24 counties throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, the agency aims to coordinate supportive services for individuals and families seeking information and referral for mental health, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse, and other human service needs.
“CCR is honored to host Secretary Arkoosh as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. Our agency is committed to providing quality services to individuals in need by connecting them to the services and supports where they live,” said CCR Executive Director Beth Gillan. “We are grateful to collaborate with county human service administrators and be a part of a robust community-based behavioral health system.”
Read the Governor’s full budget proposal.
More information on mental health services available to all Pennsylvanians is available on DHS’ website.
