Seven Counties Services announced today it is the recipient of a two-year, $5 million grant from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand mental health and substance use services to adults with serious mental illness, children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance, and individuals with co-occurring disorders.

The expansion will enable Seven Counties Services to serve at least 1,000 additional individuals over the funding period with comprehensive, trauma-informed, evidence-based mental health and
substance use services.

New and enhanced services will include:

• Crisis care
• Mental health screenings
• Telehealth services
• Addiction services to enhance response during opioid epidemic
• Integrated services to vulnerable populations such as the severely mentally ill

Seven Counties Services will increase its staffing and expand telehealth capabilities to increase access to care; decrease hospitalization through crisis response and timely intervention; and provide clients with community-based treatment and support.

The goal is to respond to emergent clients within three hours, 80% of the time, and divert at least 80% of child/youth/adult clients from hospitalization at the time of intervention.

“Kentucky ranks comparatively higher than other states in the rates of adults living with mental illness, including those with substance use disorder and suicidal ideation, and equally low in
terms of access to care for those individuals,” said Abby Drane, President & CEO of Seven Counties Services / Bellewood & Brooklawn.

“COVID-19 has exasperated this disparity and caused an increase in the overall demand for mental health services in our region. Without access to coordinated, whole person care options, our citizens are vulnerable to poor outcomes, such as higher rates of mortality, substance abuse, hospitalization, and more. As this region’s Community Mental Health Center, we are uniquely positioned to provide these services to the community at a time when it’s so greatly needed.”

“Access to comprehensive mental and behavioral health services is one of the most important things we can provide to people, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made that need even more clear. I’m so proud to see this federal funding being awarded to Seven Counties Services in recognition of the outstanding work they do and the tremendous need we have here in Kentucky,” said Congressman John Yarmuth. “With this federal investment to increase staffing, expand care, and expedite response times, Seven Counties Services will be able to save more lives, assist those in crisis, and provide hope to individuals and families in need. I’m proud to have voted in support of this funding to increase access to services here in our commonwealth, and I’m incredibly thankful to those on the front lines of this fight, helping Kentuckians when they need it most.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an even brighter lens to the great need for more mental health
and substance use services in our community, and we’re grateful for community partners like Seven
Counties Services and the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for
stepping up to help people in crisis in our community,” said Mayor Greg Fischer.

xpanded services across a seven-county region:
Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, and Henry counties.