Washington County plans to expand its mental health care services thanks to a $3.45 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The Department used a new formula to distribute the Adult Mental Health Initiative and Community Support Program grant funding, which resulted in Washington County receiving $1.29 million more than it received from the last round of grant funding, according to a news release.

The money will be used to add housing subsidy funds, adult rehabilitative mental health services, and critical incident training. It will also pay for a new Mental Health Outreach Van Program. The mobile service will begin next year and will bring information, resources, and services directly to people throughout the county. “The goal is to remove barriers, expand access, and provide on-the-spot assistance to ensure essential services are within reach for all,” the county said in a statement.

Additional staff is expected to be added to address a significant increase in service needs, including personnel for forensic case management, a stabilization/civil commitment case manager, and a lead social worker in the mental health outreach program. The county board approved the grant agreement on Nov. 26.