Mental Health and Recovery Board Alliance Receives $5,385,000 for The Village Network to Build and Operate a Facility to Help Residents in Mental Health or Substance Use Crisis

Local Project One of 37 Statewide Initiatives Supported by $90M in American Rescue Plan Act Funds Awarded by the State Mental Health and Addiction Services Department

(BETHESDA, OH) – An alliance of four Mental Health and Recovery Boards representing eleven counties in Southeast Ohio has received a grant of $5,385,000, which will enable The Village Network to construct, own, and operate a cutting-edge building at its Bethesda location in southeast Ohio. This facility will strengthen local services for residents facing a mental health or substance use crisis. The funding is part of $90 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS).

The Appalachian Children’s Coalition aided in obtaining this grant. The Board alliance includes:

· Mental Health and Recovery Board serving Belmont, Harrison, and Monroe Counties

· Mental Health and Recovery Board serving Coshocton, Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Perry Counties

· Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board

· Washington County Behavioral Health Board

The new building will have 16 short-term residential beds for boys and girls and four crisis stabilization beds. This facility will be the first of its kind in this part of Ohio, equipped with advanced technology and resources. It will offer valuable therapeutic stabilization beds to the local community, fulfilling a significant need.

“We are pleased to receive this grant, which will allow us to continue supporting our community members statewide who are struggling with mental health,” stated Rich Graziano, President and CEO of The Village Network. “This new facility is a step towards building brighter futures for the families we serve and strengthening our organization’s collaboration in that region.”

“Because of these investments, more Ohioans and their families will have a better response to their behavioral health crisis needs than ever before,” said OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss. “With these projects, Ohio is taking a leap forward to reverse decades of neglect for Ohio’s behavioral health crisis care system, ultimately creating a more hopeful future for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.”

Strengthening crisis services at the community level is an ongoing priority for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Criss’ agency. Learn more about the State of Ohio’s crisis work HERE. The Village Network is an experienced, multi-discipline behavioral health nonprofit organization helping youth and families become resilient, healthy, and have brighter futures. Learn more HERE.