Oklahoma Mental Health Agency Seeks $79M Funding Boost

State Agency Pushes for Financial Recovery

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is asking lawmakers for an additional $79 million to stabilize its operations.

After years of financial turbulence and cuts to community programs, the department said it needs more money to restore core services and modernize systems statewide.

Audits Revealed Troubled Finances

A recent audit uncovered questionable financial practices used to keep the agency running in past years. Officials admitted the department previously relied on short-term measures, including internal transfers and contract reductions, to stay solvent.

Interim Director Gregory Slavonic told lawmakers the department is “on a better path” but still faces critical gaps in service delivery and technology infrastructure.

Funding Needed for Oklahoma Community Services

The requested funds would restore partnerships with more than 300 mental health providers whose contracts were cut during the budget crisis. Officials said the money would also improve crisis response teams, digital systems, and addiction recovery programs.

“Mental health is public safety,” Slavonic said. “If we don’t invest now, we’ll pay more later in jails and emergency rooms.”

Lawmakers Reviewing the Request

The funding proposal will be reviewed by the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency before the 2026 session. Lawmakers have expressed interest in strengthening behavioral health resources after growing concerns about the use of county jails for mental health treatment.

Oklahoma’s renewed focus on mental health comes as the state seeks to meet court-ordered standards for competency care and expand access to community-based treatment across rural areas.

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