CHAMBERSBURG – Franklin County has received a Pennsylvania Department of Human Services grant of $6.2 million Human Services Block Grant, aimed at sustaining and expanding a broad spectrum of programs supporting vulnerable residents.
The $6,194,141 grant will help fund critical services across four major areas: mental health, intellectual disabilities, homelessness prevention and substance use disorder recovery. The Human Services Development Fund, also supported through the grant, provides additional flexible resources for local programming.
Wide-ranging mental health services
The grant supports an extensive menu of mental health services designed to meet residents’ needs at varying levels of care. Funded programs include:
- Community employment and residential support
- Emergency services and crisis intervention
- Outpatient treatment and peer support
- Family-based and family support services
- Facility-based vocational rehabilitation
- Housing support and social rehabilitation
- Targeted case management
These programs aim to provide both short-term stabilization and long-term care, ensuring residents with mental health needs have access to timely support and community-based resources.
Support for intellectual disabilities
Funding for intellectual disabilities services focuses on helping individuals live as independently and thoroughly as possible within their communities. This portion of the grant will fund:
- Case management services
- Community-based programming
- Community residential placements
These supports are designed to foster autonomy while maintaining necessary safeguards and professional oversight.
Homeless assistance services
A portion of the grant will address housing insecurity through the county’s Homeless Assistance Program. Funding will be used for:
- Case management for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness
- Rental assistance to promote housing stability
- Emergency shelter access
County officials noted that the program aims to prevent homelessness whenever possible and reduce the amount of time people spend without stable housing.
Addressing substance use disorders
Another key component of the grant will support the county’s ongoing response to substance use disorder, with programs that include:
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Outpatient and intensive outpatient therapy
- Partial hospitalization
- Prevention and recovery support services
- Case management and other evidence-based interventions
The goal is to provide a full continuum of care for individuals at various stages of recovery.
Administrative and flexible support
All service categories include funding for administrative costs to ensure programs operate effectively and in compliance with state guidelines. The Human Services Development Fund will also offer general-purpose funding to cover services that don’t fall neatly into one category but address local needs.
County leaders say the grant reflects a commitment to improving outcomes for residents facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.
For more information about the programs funded through this agreement, readers may visit the Franklin County government website or contact the Human Services Department.
