Linking Patients to Single County Authority Services

In 1972, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania established a Single State Agency and a system of Single County Authorities (SCAs) to  implement substance use disorder prevention, intervention, and treatment services through county based planning and management.  Act 63, the Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Abuse Control Act, requires the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to develop a State  Plan for the control, prevention, intervention, treatment, rehabilitation, research, education and training aspects of drug and alcohol  misuse and dependence programs. SCAs are charged with conducting the state plan and developing a local plan that includes an array  of recovery support and services.

Single County Authorities (SCA) receive state and federal dollars through contracts with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and  Alcohol Programs (DDAP), to plan, coordinate, programmatically and fiscally manage and implement the delivery of drug and alcohol  prevention, intervention, and treatment services at the local level. SCAs also receive funding for treatment services from the  Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The services funded by DHS are primarily targeted to individuals in non-hospital residential care who are eligible for Medical Assistance or to a continuum of treatment services for those individuals no longer eligible because of welfare reforms. (PA Association of County Drug and Alcohol Administrators)