(From Hancock County ADAMHS)
Restoration of Federal SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Grants to Hancock County Behavioral Health Services:
On Thursday, January 15 at 11:11am, Hancock County ADAMHS received official confirmation from SAMHSA that “termination of your award, previously communicated on January 13, 2026, is hereby rescinded. Your award will remain active under its original terms and conditions.”
Without any advance notice, on January 13, 2026, Hancock County ADAMHS received notification from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of immediate termination of three federal grants.
These grants support the workforce and essential services they provide through Family Resource Center, FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Center, and The City Mission as well as program evaluation, research and training support from Brandeis University and Case Western Reserve University.
This funding termination, if it had continued, would have resulted in a loss of approximately $1.5M for the remaining 9 months (through September 2026).
With such a significant amount of funding loss, the current level and accessibility of services would have been significantly impacted.
Affected agency directors and the ADAMHS Board share their gratitude to all who came together to share their opposition to the original decision to cancel grant funding. Specifically, The Community Foundation and Mayor Muryn is to be acknowledged in their willingness to provide additional funding to maintain programs and services if grant funds were not restored.
ADAMHS is incredibly grateful to our legislators, at all levels of government, for their advocacy on our behalf. Precia Stuby said, “They answered our calls and regularly kept in contact as they learned of updates about the grant funding.”
The immediate termination allowed no time to prepare individuals receiving services or to the professionals who deliver services who are potentially impacted by the cuts. This was a disservice to all involved, especially to those in need of life-saving services.
Without this rescission, cuts would have had a profound impact on everyone engaged in the behavioral health system – not just clients, but staff who deliver services, and agency administrators who ensure that agencies are able to remain open to deliver any services.
Hancock County was not alone. Cuts were being made across the country to the tune of nearly 2 billion dollars in grants that support addiction and mental health services.