State College, PA – Today, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh shared how Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026-27 Budget Proposal will support the behavioral health workforce and Pennsylvanians around the Commonwealth by enhancing crisis services, expanding behavioral health resources, and piloting programs to help those experiencing homelessness and people returning to their communities after incarceration.
During a visit to Centre Helps, a 988 call center, Secretary Arkoosh talked with staff and volunteers about the importance of strengthening crisis systems of care and having accessible, affordable, and local mental health and substance use disorder services available to Pennsylvanians.
“We know that caring for our behavioral health is just as important as caring for our physical health, which is why the Shapiro Administration is working to build a robust behavioral health system including 988 call centers, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization centers that is available to meet Pennsylvanians’ needs,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “Governor Shapiro’s proposed strategic investments in 988 call centers like Centre Helps are a critical part of ensuring these response systems are available 24/7 to support individuals in need, because every person who receives appropriate and timely help creates positive ripple effects for the health and stability of families and communities across our Commonwealth.”
The Shapiro Administration has prioritized making investments that ensure Pennsylvanians have access to equitable and affordable behavioral health services.
Pennsylvania’s 988 call centers received $5 million in one-time state funding in Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 state budget that enabled call centers like Centre Helps to move to a larger facility last year and expand its 988 services to include text and chat.
The Governor’s 2026-27 budget proposal includes:
· A new investment of $10 million to support 988 and its network of 14 call centers in Pennsylvania to ensure that help is available 24/7 when people need it.
· $5 million to maintain mental health crisis walk-in centers so that people experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis can get appropriate care.
Centre Helps was established in 1971 by a group of dedicated Penn State student volunteers with the mission of providing reliable information on drugs and alcohol to those in need. Over the decades, the organization has expanded its services and solidified its position as a critical support resource for the community.
The Centre Helps hotline has evolved from its initial focus on drug and alcohol information to become the county’s primary information and referral hotline. It is accredited by the International Council of Hotlines and serves as a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center, underscoring the quality and reliability of the services provided.
In addition to its hotline services, Centre Helps offers Basic Needs Case Management services, helping to prevent eviction and utility shut-off, and Drug and Alcohol Classes which are designed to assist students who have encountered drug or alcohol violations, helping them navigate their challenges and promoting their well-being. Centre Helps’ core values of respect, empathy, empowerment, commitment, and community are integral to their mission of providing compassionate and effective support to individuals seeking help.
“We are honored to have welcomed Secretary Arkoosh to Centre Helps to show her firsthand the critical work our counselors and volunteers do every day,” said Centre Helps Executive Director Denise Herr McCann. “The Governor’s proposed investment in 988 and crisis services is vital — since the transition to 988, our call volume has grown dramatically. We recently expanded services to include 988 texts and chats, which has opened the door to a whole new population of younger people who may not be ready to pick up the phone. This funding helps ensure we can continue to be there for people in their most vulnerable moments. We are grateful for the continued support of our county commissioners, local government, Penn State student volunteers, and the Commonwealth, all of whom make it possible for us to answer the call.”
Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, his Administration has advanced initiatives to improve mental and behavioral health services across Pennsylvania, including $111 million for school safety and mental health supports. More than 800 schools have expanded mental health services, and more than 200 counselors have been hired since the Shapiro Administration began.
The Governor’s budget proposal continues this work by calling for legislation to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to access any behavioral health provider who is willing to serve their needs, even those who are out of network. Too often, that provider is not always available within someone’s insurance network, so this proposal calls for a more streamlined pathway for qualified behavioral health providers to join insurance networks, reducing wait times and giving patients greater choice in selecting clinicians who meet their needs.
In addition, the budget calls for commonsense consumer protections in commercial insurance plans to ensure direct payments for prescription drugs count toward a Pennsylvanian’s annual out-of-pocket maximums and to guarantee access to “any willing” behavioral health providers, even when they are out of network — delivering more consumer friendly insurance practices and putting money back in Pennsylvanians’ pockets.
These investments build on county mental health services and strengthen Pennsylvania’s crisis system — ensuring help is there when people need it most and reinforcing the Commonwealth’s commitment to protecting communities, families, and kids.
Read more about Governor Shapiro’s 2026-27 Budget Proposal.
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