Block grants for community mental health services

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Ohio Department of Mental Health $70.354 million on October 1, 2025, under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program (CFDA 93.958). The award runs through September 30, 2027, with place of performance in Columbus, Ohio.

The funding supports comprehensive community mental health services to adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbance across Ohio. Up to 5 percent of grant funds may be used for administering the award. States are required to set aside 10 percent of their allocation for implementing programs showing strong evidence of effectiveness targeting individuals with early serious mental illness, including psychotic disorders. Funds may not be used for inpatient services, cash payments to intended recipients, land or facility purchases, or financial assistance to entities other than public or nonprofit private entities.

The Ohio Department of Mental Health passed funding through to numerous sub-recipients beginning July 1 and July 22, 2026, including Ohio Children's Alliance, Ohio Peer Recovery Organizations, Hope Recovery Community Inc., Mental Health America of Ohio, Summit County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, Mental Health Recovery Boards in Warren and other counties, Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, and county and regional mental health and recovery boards across Ohio. These sub-recipients deliver community-based mental health services, peer support, recovery services, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, and opioid response programming at the county and regional level.