Kentucky is set to receive nearly $17 million in federal funding to strengthen mental health and addiction services across the state, according to an announcement from Governor Andy Breshear’s Office.
The money comes through grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will support the state’s 988 crisis line, youth mental health programs and addiction recovery efforts.
The funding will be split among five projects:
988 Crisis Improvement Project — $7,391,219: Aimed at improving Kentucky’s response to all 988 contacts, including calls, chats and texts originating in the state, with a focus on bolstering services for populations at high risk of suicide and overdose.
Early identification and treatment for youth experiencing psychosis — $2.6 million: Will help identify youth and young adults age 25 and younger who are at clinical high risk for psychosis, with the goal of preventing its onset or lessening the severity of psychotic disorders.
Expansion of youth behavioral health mobile crisis teams — $3 million: Will create and enhance mobile crisis teams serving children, youth and adults experiencing mental health and addiction crises.
Grantees will work to divert crisis responses away from law enforcement alone and into the behavioral health crisis system.
Doula support for women with addiction — $3,238,083: Will strengthen and expand integrated addiction and maternal mental health services for pregnant and postpartum women and their families.
School Crisis Response Network — $600,000: Will help schools statewide prepare for crises, raise mental health awareness and connect students to care following traumatic events such as disasters, suicide deaths, violence and fatal accidents.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack said the funding reflects the state’s commitment to treating mental health with the same urgency as physical health.
The grant funding builds on what Beshear’s administration describes as a broader push to expand addiction and recovery support, an effort it credits with four consecutive years of declining overdose deaths in Kentucky.
The state points to a combination of programs helping drive that trend, including addiction services through Medicaid and the Opioid Response Effort, Narcan distribution, grant funding for addiction treatment organizations, Recovery Ready Communities, reentry services, and drug interdiction work by the Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement.
Kentuckians struggling with addiction can call the KY HELP Call Center at 833-8KY-HELP or visit FindHelpNowKy.org to find nearby recovery resources.
Source: WBKO
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