Brown tells of $1.5M for recovery services

Nord Center to build crisis center for detoxification and behavioral health care

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced July 5 that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $1.5 million in congressionally directed spending (CDS) from the Health Resources and Services Administration to the Nord Center in Lorain County to help support construction of the new Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center.

What this means

The project will expand the county’s capacity to provide inpatient detoxification services and revolutionize the care continuum for those with behavioral health and substance use disorder diagnoses, according to a news release.

Brown helped secure this funding in the Fiscal Year 22 CDS requests he submitted, the release said.

“We know the pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health and we know it’s made the addiction crisis worse,” Brown said. “This funding will help to ensure that the Nord Center has the support and resources they need to respond to Ohioans in crisis.

“The best ideas don’t come out of Washington — they come from Ohioans who know better than anyone what their communities need, and this project has wide support from the community in Lorain.”

What is The Nord Center?

The Nord Center is a nonprofit, community behavioral health center serving Lorain County and the surrounding communities.

Founded in 1947, the organization currently serves 7,000 Ohioans each year.

How is this different?

With the development of the new crisis receiving center, the Nord Center will help revolutionize care for behavioral health and substance use disorder in the region and expand access to crisis care to more Ohioans in need, the release said.

“The Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center will bring innovative care to the region for those experiencing behavioral health and/ or substance use disorder crises,” said Don Schifferbauer, CEO of the NORD Center. “In addition, this federal capital funding will provide support for bringing greatly needed detox services into Lorain County.

“The Crisis Receiving Center will provide 24/7 comprehensive emergency behavioral health and substance use disorder care utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach. An integral part of the care delivery team are peer support specialists who bring credibility via lived experience and the ability to quickly build a rapport with those experiencing these crisis situations.

“We appreciate Senator Brown’s support and advocacy for this request and helping to bring this cutting edge behavioral health care to Lorain County.”

Innovative

Michael Doud, executive director for the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County, said the funding allocated to this project will support the delivery of innovative behavioral health care.

“The crisis receiving center is the centerpiece of a much larger crisis care continuum for Lorain County,” Doud said. “Using a ‘no wrong door’ approach, the crisis receiving will not only provide a portal of entry, but also support a seamless transition of care designed to support recovery and healing.”

Local effects

Dan Haight, president and CEO of The LCADA Way, said the capital funding is a blessing to the Lorain County community.

“The local access to detox services will be a game changer in battling the Opioid epidemic,” Haight said. “The LCADA Way is so grateful this support has come to our community. Sen. Brown has always supported Behavioral Healthcare and knows the impact it has on our community.”

Sheriff responds to need

“On behalf of the citizens of Lorain County an all the law enforcement agencies in Lorain County, we would like to personally thank you for obtaining the $1.5 million federal grant award toward the building of the Lorain County Crisis Receiving Center,” said Lorain County Sheriff Phil Stammitti. “The development of this much needed center will help with the alternative to incarceration, which will benefit those suffering from mental illness and dependency issues in Lorain County to get the services that they need so desperately.”

Federal dollars

Funding for this project comes from a funding package that President Biden signed into law in March 2022, which included key wins for communities across Ohio that Brown helped to secure, including funding local projects and other important priorities, the release said.

Brown and his office worked with local entities across Ohio to request and secure congressionally directed spending funding through the Senate Appropriations Committee, securing more than $100 million for projects throughout Ohio, the release said.

Brown is a member of the Senate Finance Committee which has held hearings focused on mental health and is now focused on bipartisan legislation to address the gaps and challenges in mental health services.

“The crisis receiving center is the centerpiece of a much larger crisis care continuum for Lorain County. Using a ‘no wrong door’ approach, the crisis receiving will not only provide a portal of entry, but also support a seamless transition of care designed to support recovery and healing.” — Michael Doud, executive director for the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services (MHARS) Board of Lorain County