Kathy Cromer says Northampton County Mental Health budget of about $13 million limits services and local bed capacity

Kathy Cromer, deputy administrator of Northampton County Mental Health, told the Human Services Committee the division focuses on recovery-oriented care for people with serious mental illness, but faces funding and capacity constraints.

Cromer said the divisionbudget is about $13,000,000 and that most mental health services are funded via medical assistance and a state program she identified as CHIP (Community and Hospital Integration Project programs), which was created after state hospital bed closures to support community services. "Our budget is about $13,000,000, and that is for all of our services," Cromer said.

She described the division's staffing and services: an administrator and deputies, 11 caseworkers in the unit, two supervisors, and two program specialists. The division provides intake and linkage for people across a broad age range and concentrates resources on people with serious mental illness. Cromer said there are relatively few local residential beds: she referenced roughly nine to 13 beds at the state hospital site noted in her talk and other small supported living or lodge-style options.

Cromer gave intake figures she said were: fiscal year 23-24 — 1,341 intakes (about 80% categorized as serious mental illness); a later year she referenced as "2425" with 1,078 intakes; and "2526," July through December, with 985 intakes. She said demand rose after the Jordan Creek encampment closed and some of those experiencing homelessness moved into Bethlehem encampments that are now under Northampton County jurisdiction.

On funding changes, Cromer said forensic funds added $3,000,000 to the division's budget, enabling the county to create a long-term structured residence and expand forensic services since 2018. When asked by committee members about crossover with Intermediate Units and supports for people who do not qualify for county services, Cromer said the division refers people to outside resources such as the PA HIP program, CHC waiver programs and Pennsylvania brain-injury support systems and offered to return with more detailed data about gaps arising from the prior budget impasse.

The committee thanked Cromer for the presentation and indicated interest in a future follow-up focused on forensic programming and funding gaps.