City of Philadelphia
For Immediate Release: Sept. 25, 2026
Contact: Christina.Crews@phila.gov
New program at the Kensington Wellness Support Center will help connect people to medication for opioid use disorder and longer-term treatment
PHILADELPHIA — Today, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker joined the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), the Pa. Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), and Merakey to cut the ribbon on a new Mobile Methadone Program at the City’s Kensington Wellness Support Center.
The program expands access to medication for opioid use disorder by allowing people to begin methadone treatment at the center and helping connect them to ongoing outpatient care.
The new service builds on the City’s broader effort to create a more coordinated system of behavioral health, treatment, recovery, and other supports. The Kensington Wellness Support Center at 265 E. Lehigh Ave. already brings together medical and behavioral health services, treatment connections, legal assistance, and other resources. It also supports participants in the Neighborhood Wellness Court, which provides same-day assessment and opportunities for treatment and diversion for eligible participants.
“Treatment works, but only when people can access it,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “This new mobile methadone program gives us another tool to bring lifesaving treatment closer to people who need it and connect them to longer-term care and support. Through our partnership with Merakey and the Commonwealth, we are continuing to build a Wellness Ecosystem in Philadelphia that closes gaps, removes barriers and gives people a real pathway toward treatment, recovery, and greater stability.”
From October 2025 through Aug. 31, 2026, 567 people were admitted through the treatment initiative and connected to medication for opioid use disorder. Of those participants, 207 were stabilized and connected to longer-term outpatient treatment. Ninety percent of people entering the program were unhoused or living in shelters at the time they entered care, according to program data provided by DBHIDS and Merakey.
“People should not have to overcome unnecessary barriers to get lifesaving treatment,” said Kehinde “Kenny” Solanke, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services. “This mobile methadone program gives us another way to meet people where they are, begin treatment when they are ready, and connect them to the ongoing care they need. It reflects the kind of behavioral health system we are working to build in Philadelphia — one that is accessible, responsive, and focused on helping people move toward recovery and greater stability.”
The mobile program is part of a continuing partnership among the City, Commonwealth, and Merakey to increase access to substance use disorder treatment. Merakey is also an existing partner at the Kensington Wellness Support Center and provides substance use services to individuals connected through the Neighborhood Wellness Court.
“This mobile unit is literally going to meet Philadelphians where they are – that is a huge incentive for individuals to get treatment,” said DDAP Secretary Latika Davis-Jones. “It’s also a prime example of what happens when the Shapiro Administration takes an all-hands-on-deck approach to knocking down barriers to treatment like transportation and stigma. Roads to recovery are often paved by community and, because of partnering with the City of Philadelphia and Merakey, I’m confident even more Philadelphians are going to get the care they need to recover.”
Merakey CEO Joe Martz noted: “For many individuals struggling with opioid use disorder, accessing traditional treatment can be challenging. Transportation limitations, housing instability, medical needs, and other barriers can prevent people from receiving lifesaving care. The Mobile Unit gives us the flexibility to respond to the changing needs of our city by mobilizing services where they are needed most. It allows us to adapt our approach, reach areas where barriers to care are greatest, and create a pathway toward stabilization, recovery, and long-term care.”
The Parker Administration has described its broader approach as a Wellness Ecosystem designed to better connect people experiencing substance use disorder with treatment, recovery housing, health care, and other services. City efforts include the Kensington Wellness Support Center, Neighborhood Wellness Court, and other treatment and recovery programs across Philadelphia.
The Kensington Wellness Support Center is also home to or works alongside several City and community partners, including the Office of Public Safety’s Police Assisted Diversion program, Penn Medicine, and Merakey, with additional services available to connect residents to behavioral health treatment, medical care, housing, and legal support.
“This is what a coordinated system should look like — partners working together and people being connected from an immediate intervention to longer-term care,” Mayor Parker said. “We will continue addressing the opioid crisis with urgency, compassion, and accountability, while also working to improve the quality of life for the communities most affected.”
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The City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), part of the City’s Department of Health and Human Services, offers behavioral health care, intellectual disability supports, and early intervention services in one comprehensive integrated system. For more information about DBHIDS, visit DBHIDS.org.
