State Funding for County Behavioral Health Crisis Services: Examples and Opportunities
Available On-Demand
This webinar is available on-demand. If you have issue accessing the recording, please email nacomeetings@naco.org.
State support can be pivotal for counties pursuing the sustainability and expansion of their local behavioral health crisis services and infrastructures. In this webinar, speakers will explore examples of state-funded initiatives that bolster county-level behavioral health crisis services. This session will share lessons learned from two different counties that have successfully navigated state funding opportunities to enhance their crisis response systems. Participants will gain insights into the potential avenues for securing and utilizing state funds, learn about the challenges and triumphs experienced by county programs, and discover new opportunities to strengthen their local behavioral health services.
Hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts and the MacArthur Foundation, this presentation will offer information and inspiration to support county efforts in addressing behavioral health crises using new or existing services.
Resource
County Funding Opportunities to Support Community Members Experiencing a Behavioral Health Crisis
To inform local decision making, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) developed a chart of funding opportunities across federal, state and county governments and non-government sectors. This funding chart can help county leaders identify possible funding streams to build and strengthen local behavioral health crisis response continuums.
The funding sources reflect opportunities across behavioral health, criminal legal and related systems. Due to the cross-sector nature of crisis response, some sources focus on certain populations, like youth, while others target a certain supportive piece of the crisis continuum, like workforce or training. Counties can blend and braid these resources to build a robust, accessible and sustainable behavioral health crisis continuum of care.
Watch Recording
Community Care: How Counties Leverage Real-Time Technology to Improve Behavioral Health
In this webinar, we’ll explore how counties can harness behavioral health empower providers and community stakeholders to help streamline care collaboration and improve outcomes for the communities they serve.
New approach transforms youth justice in Pierce County
Since 2000, Pierce County, Wash. has achieved an 88% reduction in youth detention — even as the county’s overall population has grown by approximately 30% over the same period.
County Countdown – October 6, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features a federal shutdown FAQ, overdose prevention funding and more.
Law enforcement, mental health pros collaborate in Virginia county
Henrico County, Va.’s crisis response continuum brings together law enforcement and behavioral health professionals to de-escalate mental health crises and avoid unnecessary incarcerations and hospitalizations.
Farm Bill expiration: What counties need to know
On September 30, 2025, the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334), expired.
HHS relaunches applications for TANF Pilot Program
This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services relaunched applications for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Pilot Program, authorized by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
Podcast: Early childhood services and counties
Boone County, Mo. Commissioner Janet Thompson describes the challenges that inadequate childhood services pose to children and families and the labor market, and how her county is working provide more options for county employees.