What is the Single County Authority?

In order to receive state and federal treatment and prevention funding, counties are required to designate SCAs responsible for program planning and the administration of federal and state funded grants and contracts.  Some of the Commonwealth's 67 counties have created joinders with other counties for this purpose, resulting in the establishment of 49 SCAs.  Four types of administrative structures exist: the Executive Commission (Public), the Executive Commission (Private), the Planning Council and the Independent Commission.  These four structures provide counties with flexibility in how they choose to administer programs by allowing for establishment of either a public entity within its local government structure, a private non-profit body, or an entity under the auspices of the county mental health/mental retardation programs.  Most services are provided by independent facilities under contract with the SCAs.

The Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs (BDAP) oversees a network of drug and alcohol programs and performs central planning, management and monitoring duties, while the SCAs provide planning for and administrative oversight to local drug and alcohol programs.  These local programs provide education, prevention, intervention and treatment services to all individuals without restriction.

BDAP provides state and federal funding to local drug and alcohol programs through contracts with the SCAs. Most SCAs, in turn, contract with independent providers for treatment, prevention and intervention services, although some SCAs administer their own direct services through licensed or approved units commonly referred to as "functional units".

BDAP allocates funds to the SCAs through two mechanisms . One is funding based on county population data "across the board" to the 49 SCAs.  This method constitutes the majority of state and federal funds allotted to the counties.

The second is Request for Proposals (RFPs), a process where BDAP determines that critical populations (e.g., addicted women) or important services (e.g., case management) need statewide coverage, direction and program/policy determination.  Then BDAP issues RFPs and selects provider agencies to administer the programs.  These agencies then receive contracts to provide these services.

The Department is responsible for the development of "a State Plan", and consequently reserves the right to coordinate the agencies or organizations for the planning and administration of community-based services.

A statewide system of agencies was developed and charged with the responsibility of assisting the Department in planning for community-based services.  It is the position of the Department that no central authority can determine, precisely what services are necessary in each of the 67 counties of this Commonwealth.  Consequently, the emphasis on the establishment of community-based drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and treatment services.

This emphasis on the establishment of community-based drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and treatment services led to the establishment of an SCA (Single County Authority) for the planning, coordination and administration of community drug and alcohol prevention, intervention and treatment services.  Some counties formed joinders with other counties to deliver these services.  Any such joinder arrangement must be approved by the Department, and no county which has entered into a joinder may withdraw from such joinder without prior approval of the Department.

The establishment of an SCA by a Local Authority included the following procedures:

·        Inform the Department of its desire to enter into the Statewide prevention, intervention and treatment system and receive written approval from the Department to establish an SCA;

·        Agree to comply with the requirements of the Department for such programs;

·        Appoint a citizen's group consisting of eleven to fifteen members which meet requirements to advise in the planning, coordinating and administering of these services;

·        Designate a full-time person to plan, coordinate and administer these services; and,

·        Execute appropriate agreements for the receipt of departmental funds.

In the case of the Executive Commission (Private) and the Independent Commission, the governing body shall establish final fiscal and management authority policies which must be approved by the Department.

If the Local Authority elects to make changes relating to organization and structure of SCAs, they may do so by requesting permission from the Department.

 Four types of SCAs are authorized:

·        Planning Council Option - Under this option, the Local Authority may choose to establish a Drug and Alcohol Planning Council.  This Council shall function as an advisory body, independent from the Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Board and/or the County Human Service Department Board, and it shall have the responsibility, along with the Drug and Alcohol Specialist, for planning, coordinating and administering funds for drug and alcohol services.  Under this option, the SCA is a branch of county government and the Specialist is a member of the MH/MR staff or the County Human Service Department Staff;

·        Executive Commission (Public) Option - Under this option, the Local Authority may choose to establish a new department within county government.  This Commission shall function as an advisory body for planning, coordinating and administering funds for drug and alcohol services. Under this option, the SCA is a branch of county government and the Executive Director is a member of the Local Authority's staff;

·        Executive Commission (Private) Option - Under this option, the Local Authority may choose to establish an Executive Commission which shall be a non-profit corporation organized in accordance with the Pennsylvania Non-profit Corporation Law, 15 Pa. C. S. § 5101 et seq.  The Commission shall function as the governing body and shall have the responsibility for planning, coordinating and administering funds for drug and alcohol services.  Under this option, the Executive Director and staff are employees of the Commission; and,