With about a quarter of the client base being involved in more than one human service agency in Schuylkill County, it was important to make sure state funding went where it was needed. That was the philosophy behind the county's inclusion in the expanded state block grant program nearly six months ago.
"It is really intended as a vehicle for the county to design its human services system based on its own identifiable needs," Daniel McGrory, administrator for the county mental health, developmental services and drug and alcohol departments, said Thursday.
On Wednesday, the county commissioners renewed an annual service agreement with Service Access and Management Inc., Pottsville, for the distribution of $6,277,595.57 in service dollars for the mental health, intellectual disabilities and early intervention programs. That budget includes about $2 million in state funding through the block grant program while the rest comes from medical assistance and money raised by SAM through the provision of services.
SAM has provided case management for mental health, disability and early intervention programs for Schuylkill County since 2004.
"They do a very good job for us," McGrory said.
The block grant program allows county officials to allocate money as they see fit instead of breaking down state funding into categories. Schuylkill County was one of 10 counties added to the program when it expanded in October 2013. The initial program started with 20 counties in 2012.
The money included in the block grant comes from Mental Health Community Programs, Intellectual Disabilities Community Base, County Child Welfare Special Grants, the Homeless Assistance Program, Act 152 drug and alcohol programs, Behavioral Health Services Initiative and the Human Services Development Fund.
Funds come in the form of half-year allocations.
"For the first six months, I think we have done a really good job," McGrory said. "It was critical to develop a sense of team decision making and we are learning each day with that, but these are very competent, skilled and engaged directors. I think we all see the value in this thing."
State budget cuts have been difficult for the programs that fall under the grant program. When the program first started, McGrory said the state reduced its funding by about 10 percent.
"That money has not yet been restored and it has been problematic," he said. "While there is more flexibility, there is less money."
Other than the 10 percent reduction, McGrory said the county kept funding for its programs to their traditional levels and then looked at what services overlap and the efficiencies that could be made.
For example, the grant allowed the county to give operating funds to the homeless shelter. All five county agencies work with the homeless population, he said.
"It's a lot of work," McGrory said. "It's a very different way for us to look at the systems and there is a learning curve to this and we will continue to progress through that."
