Community Corner

Congressman Secures $1M for Bucks County Crisis Stabilization Center

The money will be used toward the establishment of the Bright Path Center in Doylestown.

U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick presents a check for $1 million to the Lenape Valley Foundation for the Bright Patch Center project in Doylestown.
U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick presents a check for $1 million to the Lenape Valley Foundation for the Bright Patch Center project in Doylestown. (Contributed)

DOYLESTOWN, PA – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) has a secured $1,000,000 Community Project Funding (CPF) grant for the establishment of the Bright Path Center in Doylestown — the first crisis stabilization center of its kind in Pennsylvania.

The CPF was introduced by Fitzpatrick into the FY2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act as a part of the Community Project Funding program — an initiative allows Members of Congress to target federal funds towards projects and programs within their congressional districts that will address the most significant needs facing the communities they represent.

Through the Community Project Funding Request process for the 118th Congress, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, Fitzpatrick successfully secured more than $27.5 million in funding for 14 transformative community projects that will directly benefit First District constituents. Additionally, Fitzpatrick secured over $19 million in CPF Funding for 13 projects FY23 and over $6.6 million in CPF funding for 10 projects in FY22.

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With this funding, the establishment of the Bright Path Crisis Stabilization Center represents a groundbreaking step forward in the fight against the mental health and substance use disorder crisis in Bucks County. By uniting a comprehensive range of behavioral health crisis services under one roof, the center will provide urgent, trauma-informed, person-centered care in a calming and supportive environment.

This innovative approach ensures that individuals facing mental health challenges, substance abuse, intellectual disabilities, homelessness, and other issues will have streamlined and convenient access to the critical resources and services that were previously dispersed across multiple locations. By consolidating these essential services, the Bright Path Center will transform how the community responds to crisis and ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

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“I am deeply grateful for this pivotal contribution, which brings the BrightPath project to the verge of completion. Thanks to Congressman Fitzpatrick's steadfast support, the county is accelerating toward a transformative moment, as we near the finish line on projects that will revolutionize crisis services and deliver life-changing support to those battling mental health and substance use challenges,” said Bucks County Commissioner Diane Marseglia.

“As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Task Force, I’ve made it a priority to do everything I can to combat the devastating mental health and substance use disorder crisis and ensure our community has access to top-tier mental and behavioral health resources," said Fitzpatrick. "This $1 million in funding secured for the Bright Path Center marks a major development in that mission, truly lighting the way for innovative and essential behavioral health care and substance use recovery in our community, thereby saving lives and building a healthier, more resilient Bucks County."

Fitzpatrick continued, "I look forward to working with the incredible team of Lenape Valley Foundation, Doylestown Health, Bucks County Department of Behavioral Health/Developmental Programs, Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Magellan Behavioral Health, and NAMI as this project progresses, and remain committed to championing initiatives like this that bring real, life-changing support to our community."

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