Statement of Introduction
Place-Based Substance Use Disorder Outreach Amendment Act of 2025
April 11, 2025
Today, I am joined by Councilmembers Henderson, Pinto, Allen, Lewis George, Parker,
and White in introducing the “Place-Based Substance Use Disorder Outreach Amendment Act of
2025”, which establishes a targeted outreach program within the Department of Behavioral
Health to provide direct support, relationship development, and resource brokering to individuals
in need of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and behavioral health services in areas of high
need.
This measure would make permanent a successful pilot program that Council has funded
since 2021, the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Services Targeted Outreach Grant,
which began at Columbia Heights Civic Plaza and has since expanded to locations in Wards 1, 5,
6, 7, and 8. Despite subsisting on one-time funding each year, this program has shown
considerable early successes – for example, a 51% decrease in nonfatal overdoses in the 500
block of T Street NW in less than a year.
That grant program was created in response to inadequate efforts to in address long-
standing SUD challenges in select areas throughout the city, especially in prominent public
spaces. Establishing a permanent program ensures that this important and successful work can
continue without service interruptions. The success of this pilot highlights the impact of place-
based strategies that provide consistent and intensive outreach and support to individuals.
DBH plans to open a second Stabilization Center in Columbia Heights in the Summer of
2026. The first DC Stabilization Center, located at 35 K Street NE, has been critical for adults
experiencing a substance use crisis, overdoses, and injuries. Enhancing the current SUD outreach
infrastructure in the city will be critical to the continued success of both centers.
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Councilmember Christina Henderson
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
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Councilmember Charles Allen
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Councilmember Brooke Pinto
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Councilmember Zachary Parker
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Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.
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Councilmember Janeese Lewis George
1
A BILL
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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To amend the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Act of 2013 to establish a program in the 1
Department of Behavioral Health for place-based substance use disorder outreach. 2
3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 4
act may be cited as the “Place-Based Substance Use Disorder Outreach Amendment Act of 5
2025”. 6
Sec. 2. Title V, Subtitle J, Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Act of 2013 (D.C. Law 20-7
61, D.C. Official Code § 7-1141.01 et seq.) is amended as follows: 8
(a) Section 5112 (D.C. Official Code § 7-1141.02) is amended as follows: 9
(1) New paragraphs (5a) and (5b) are added to read as follows: 10
2
“(5a) “Direct support” means providing behavioral health crises assessment and 11
interventions. 12
“(5b) "Placed-based outreach” means focused on a specific geographic area, such 13
as a neighborhoods or corridor. 14
(2) New paragraphs (7a) and (7b) are added to read as follows: 15
“(7a) “Relationship development” means establishing a trusting relationship 16
through regular interaction and incorporation of peer supports when possible that fosters open 17
communication and encourages active engagement with services for individuals using 18
substances. 19
“(7b) “Resource brokering” means providing support to help individuals access 20
supportive services and public benefits, including housing, food, Medicaid, SSI or SSDI, and 21
transportation services needed to access primary and behavioral health care. 22
(b) A new section 5117d is added to read as follows: 23
“Sec. 5117d. Place-Based Substance Use Disorder Outreach. 24
“(a) There is established, within the Department of Behavioral Health, the Place-Based 25
Substance Use Disorder Outreach Program (“Program”) to provide direct support, relationship 26
development, and resource brokering to individuals in need of substance use treatment and 27
behavioral health services in high-need areas, as designated by the Department. 28
“(b) The Department shall designate a specific location as a high-need area for no less 29
than 12 months, which may be renewed. In assessing and designating high-need areas, the 30
Department shall consider: 31
“(1) Within the preceding 6-month period, the occurrence of a disproportionately 32
high rate of: 33
3
“(A) Substantiated reports of substance use in public spaces; or 34
“(B) Hospitalizations, overdoses, and deaths from substance use; 35
“(2) High reoccurrences of the same individuals using substances in the same 36
vicinity; 37
“(3) Areas with a high concentration high pedestrian and business interaction with 38
people experiencing SUD. 39
“(c) The Department may issue grants to experienced non-profit organizations to provide 40
services pursuant to this section. 41
“(d) Beginning 90 days after the applicability date of this section, and every 90 days 42
thereafter, the Department shall publish program performance data on a publicly-accessible 43
website, which shall be broken down by location and include the following information: 44
“(1) The number of individuals the program engaged through outreach efforts; 45
“(2) The number of individuals connected to substance use disorder treatment 46
programs, primary healthcare, mental health services, housing assistance, employment support, 47
or other services; 48
“(3) The number of overdose reversals or interventions performed using overdose 49
reversal medications; 50
“(4) The amount of harm reduction supplies distributed; 51
“(5) The number of educational sessions, workshops or prevention activities 52
delivered to target populations, and other performance data as determined by the Director.”. 53
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 54
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 55
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 56
4
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 57
Sec. 4. Effective date. 58
This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 59
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 60
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 61
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 62
Columbia Register. 63