(Cuyahoga County) - With a shared goal of providing compassionate and clinically appropriate behavioral health services for Cuyahoga County residents, the ADAMHS Board and The Centers have reached an agreement on the county’s new Behavioral Health Crisis Center. The revised model moves the project forward while significantly reducing the financial and structural risk to the broader provider network.
Project Structure
The ADAMHS Board and The Centers are aligned in advancing a model that supports both immediate access to crisis care and the long-term stability of the broader behavioral health system. This approach also helps strengthen confidence among key stakeholders by aligning operational responsibility with funding and ensuring a more predictable and sustainable path forward.
Under the new structure, the ADAMHS Board no longer assumes the financial responsibility of the $6.8 million in American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds, originally provided by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) as capital funding. The state dollars carry a long-term obligation to operate a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), limiting the ability to adapt the model for at least 10 years. Both organizations have agreed that The Centers would assume responsibility for managing that funding and associated obligations, while discussions with the state regarding a potential resolution remain ongoing.
Revised Crisis Model
The model is designed to quickly connect individuals to the appropriate level of care. If someone requires more intensive services, they would be transitioned to detoxification, inpatient psychiatric care, or other specialized treatment settings. The receiving center will function as a stabilization and triage environment, ensuring individuals who need more intensive treatment are moved into appropriate clinical settings.
Funding Approach
The ADAMHS Board would partner on operational funding beginning in CY2027, currently projected at $4.5 million annually, with continued support dependent on program performance and sustainability. This approach is more in line with how the ADAMHS Board typically funds its provider network.
Importantly, this framework significantly reduces the financial impact on the broader provider system, lowering the projected system reduction in CY2027 from nearly $12 million to approximately $6 million, helping stabilize funding across the network of providers. Rather than implementing across-the-board cuts, the ADAMHS Board will issue a competitive RFP for 2027, allowing providers to submit programmatic and budget proposals.
The ADAMHS Board and the Centers will also partner to advocate for $12 million in operational funding from the Cuyahoga County Opioid Settlement Fund, structured as $4 million per year over three years and pursue additional philanthropic support to help close the remaining gap.
Impact for Residents and Providers
This agreement ensures continued progress toward a crisis system that is accessible and effective. For residents, it establishes a reliable, centralized access point for behavioral health crisis and improves connections to appropriate care while reducing reliance on emergency departments and law enforcement.
For providers, the revised structure is designed to stabilize the broader network by reducing system-wide financial pressure and ensuring resources remain available across the continuum of care.
Next Steps and Board Vote
The new agreement will be brought before the Board of Directors at the ADAMHS Board General Meeting on Wednesday, March 25 at 4 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. The ADAMHS Board intends to recommend to its Board of Directors that it continue support for the crisis center under the new terms.
Construction of the crisis center is ongoing and on-target for completion by the Sept. 30, 2026 deadline required by DBH.
Joint Statement from the ADAMHS Board and The Centers:
“This agreement reflects a thoughtful and coordinated approach to delivering a crisis response system that is sustainable, accessible and aligned across our partners. It helps ensure that residents can get the care they need, supports the strength of our provider network and reinforces confidence in the long-terms success of this investment.
The Centers and the ADAMHS Board also express appreciation to the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (ODBH) for its guidance and technical assistance throughout the planning of the crisis center, and to Governor Mike DeWine for his leadership in strengthening Ohio’s behavioral health crisis response system.
We want to emphasize that the crisis center would not have been possible without the state’s partnership during the early stages of planning and development. Looking ahead, the partners remain committed to working with the ODBH and the Ohio Department of Medicaid to advance sustainable financing structures for crisis services—building on the progress Ohio has made and aligning with successful models implemented in other states.”
Jason Joyce, ADAMHS Board CEO
Eric L. Morse, The Centers President & CEO
