The county’s Board of Commissioners on Tuesday authorized applying for Community and Mental Health
Services Block Grants of $3 million and $850,000 from Pennsylvania’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
Natalie Corman, director of Mental Health/Intellectual Disability/Early Intervention, said counties previously received notice to submit letters of intent to apply for funding for crisis services enhancements and Centre County recently was invited to fully apply for the grants.
Crisis services have been an ongoing discussion in the county for years, and particularly since 2019 following the fatal police shooting of Osaze Osagie in State College while officers were serving a mental health warrant. Recommendations of a joint borough and county task force formed later that year include the projects the county is looking to fund with the grants.