How Top Programs Are Spending Opioid Settlement Funds

Today’s Brief:

• Co-Responder Briefs

• Benton County’s Groundbreaking Crisis Center Rethinks Emergency Mental Health

• Cecil County Launches One-Stop Mental Health Hub for Families and Schools

• Social Media Briefs

  Total Read Time: 2 Minutes

👮 Co-Responder Briefs

Healing the Crisis: How Cuyahoga County Is Allocating $137M in Opioid Settlement Funds

Cuyahoga County has received about $136.7 million from opioid litigation, and around $81 million has already been spent or earmarked. Recent investments include $3.5 million to expand a co-responder program pairing mental‑health professionals with first responders, and $7 million to build a new behavioral crisis center in Cleveland's Central neighborhood, slated to open in 2026 as a “front door” for addiction and mental health services.

Social Work on the Beat: Co‑Responder Program Expands in Bucks County

Bucks County Human Services co‑responder Scott Marshall has joined police departments in Doylestown Township, Plumstead Township, and New Britain Township to help divert individuals in crisis to social services instead of the criminal justice system. Since 2020, the program has grown to cover 27 departments, with over 2,900 residents assisted across 14,000 encounters, reducing time officers spend on non-emergency service calls

The Co-Responder Model of Policing: A Scoping Review:

MSCCJ student Samantha White winning pitch at 3-minute pitch competition

Sponsored by: Julota

🧠 Benton County’s Groundbreaking Crisis Center Rethinks Emergency Mental Health

Benton County, Oregon, has opened a $9 million Crisis Center in Corvallis that reimagines how communities respond to mental health emergencies—offering an alternative to law enforcement or ER involvement. The center provides voluntary crisis counseling, stabilization, referrals, and connections to services like housing or addiction support. Its "no wrong door" approach welcomes all individuals, regardless of insurance or background. The building was intentionally designed with calming architecture, biophilic color schemes, and safety features to support people in altered states. Though currently open weekdays, the center plans to expand to 24/7 care by early 2026, pending staffing and funding. With just 11 staff and a need for 39, the county is working with local universities to bolster workforce capacity and sustain this ambitious community-driven initiative.

🧠 Cecil County Launches One-Stop Mental Health Hub for Families and Schools

Cecil County, Maryland, has launched a new behavioral health “Hub” aimed at uniting services across schools and the broader community to improve mental health care access. Backed by a $5 million grant from the Maryland Consortium on Consolidated Community Supports, the Hub is designed to streamline how families, youth, and educators access mental and behavioral health resources. It builds upon existing initiatives like BrightPath, a digital support platform developed with Greenspace Health and Upper Bay, enabling faster referrals and care coordination.

The county’s model reflects a growing trend of embedding mental health within educational systems, making support more proactive and less crisis-driven. Officials say this collective-impact approach is essential to addressing rising behavioral health needs and ensuring students don’t fall through the cracks. With Blueprint for Maryland’s Future funds, the county hopes to sustain and grow this integrated support model.