Cuyahoga County will provide funding to expand and strengthen behavioral health services

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH—Cuyahoga County will allocate $7 million from the Opioid Settlement Fund to support the construction of a new behavioral health crisis center. A first-of-its-kind facility in Cuyahoga County, the facility will provide urgent mental health and addiction care in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. The investment, pending Cuyahoga County approval, represents a key milestone in a partnership between Cuyahoga County, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County, and The Centers.

The facility will serve as a critical entry point for individuals in crisis to receive immediate, compassionate, and coordinated care. It will provide crisis stabilization services, detox services, and connections to long-term treatment, helping reduce reliance on emergency rooms and the criminal justice system for behavioral health needs.

The new crisis center will be open 24/7 year-round to adults, 18 years and older. An onsite behavioral health urgent care will support youth and adults. The new facility is designed to serve thousands of individuals, providing a full continuum of behavioral and physical health services in one location. 

“Too many families in our community have been torn apart by addiction and mental health crises, and too often they’ve had nowhere to turn,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “This investment will give people real help at the moment they need it most. It's the kind of bold, coordinated response our residents deserve.”

The $7 million investment comes from the County’s share of national opioid settlements, ensuring that funds from the epidemic are reinvested directly into treatment, recovery, and prevention strategies.

“This crisis center represents a new chapter in how we respond to addiction and mental health emergencies,” said Brandy Carney, Cuyahoga County Director of Public Safety and Justice Services. “It brings health care and public safety together to make sure people get the right help at the right time.”

“We thank Cuyahoga County for making a significant investment in the future of behavioral health,” said Scott Osiecki, CEO of the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County. “We launched this initiative to expand the crisis continuum of care and transform how our community responds to the behavioral health needs of individuals in crisis. This additional funding brings the project one step closer to being a true ‘front door’ to the behavioral health system, one where individuals can access immediate care, support and a clear path to recovery.”

In 2024, the ADAMHS Board selected The Centers, one of Northeast Ohio’s largest and most comprehensive behavioral health providers, to operate the new facility.

“We are proud to partner with the County and the ADAMHS Board to bring this vision to life,” said Eric Morse, President and CEO of The Centers. “This center will be a safe, welcoming space where people can stabilize and begin the path toward recovery with dignity and support.”

The facility will be located on the campus of the former St. Vincent Charity Hospital. It’s expected to open on September 2, 2026.