(Cuyahoga County) - The Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board and The Centers are pleased to announce a significant breakthrough that has cleared the way for both organizations to move forward with finalizing an agreement to open the much-anticipated Behavioral Health Crisis Center.

As a result of this milestone, the special board meeting previously scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m., has been canceled. While this agreement marks a significant milestone, both organizations emphasize that additional work remains to ensure the crisis center’s long-term sustainability and operational excellence are realized in Cuyahoga County. The major elements of the new structure tentatively include:  

• The ADAMHS Board and The Centers are reviewing ways to reduce financial risk associated with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

• The ADAMHS Board partners with The Centers to reduce the costs to the broader behavioral health network.

• The ADAMHS Board partners with The Centers to advocate for operational funding from the County Opioid Settlement Funds and other funding sources to close the remaining gap. 

• Continued support from the ADAMHS Board would be dependent on program performance and sustainability, in line with typical provider agreements.

Next Steps:

• Detailed Planning: Leadership from both the ADAMHS Board and The Centers are currently finalizing the specific operational and financial details of the plan.

• Timeline for Updates: These detailed plans will be shared with the public and community stakeholders over the next few weeks.

 "This agreement reflects our shared commitment to building a robust crisis continuum of care for Cuyahoga County. By working together, we are ensuring that individuals in our community have a safe, dignified place to receive care when they need it most," – Jason Joyce, ADAMHS Board CEO and Eric L. Morse, The Centers President & CEO.