SANDUSKY — The Erie County Department of Health has been awarded an $800,000 federal grant to train first responders across the county to respond to calls involving substance abuse or mental health disorders, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced.
The award comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. It will give first responders the skills and training they need when they are first on the scene for mental health crises or substance abuse emergencies.
“First responders are the first ones on the scene for a wide variety of emergencies, including to assist individuals experiencing mental health crises or substance abuse disorders,” Kaptur said. “Our community has an ever-increasing need to improve the lives of our neighbors suffering from mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders. Federal support will allow Northwest Ohio’s brave and skilled first responders to better meet the needs of all people who are in need of their expert assistance.”
Erie County Health Commissioner Pete Schade said the department is pleased to accept the grant funds for the third time, noting the county is filling recovery gaps that so many residents need.
“Clearly, we are providing services with this funding that enable lives to be saved and souls to recover from the scourge of addiction,” Schade said. “We are poised to provide the needed gaps in recovery that so many covet.”
The announcement highlights a continuing federal investment in Northwest Ohio’s public health infrastructure. As first responders increasingly encounter behavioral health calls, officials say specialized training helps crews connect people in crisis with treatment and recovery resources rather than leaving them without support.
