Tuesday, September 23, 2014

$99 MILLION IN GRANTS ANNOUNCED TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVIES 
September 22, 2014
Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
240-276-2130
HHS announces $99 million in new grants to improve mental health services for young people

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today $99 million to train new mental health providers, help teachers and others recognize mental health issues in youth and connect them to help, and increase access to mental health services for young people. These funds were included in the President and Vice President’s Now Is the Time plan to reduce gun violence by keeping guns out of dangerous hands, increasing access to mental health services, and making schools safer.

“The Administration is committed to increasing access to mental health services to protect the health of children and communities,” said Secretary Burwell. “Today, I am pleased to announce another step the Department is taking to help ensure that our young people have access to the mental health services they need to reach their full potential.”

The Obama Administration has taken a number of steps to reduce the barriers that too often prevent people from getting the help they need for mental health and other behavioral health problems. The historic expansion of insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse services made possible by the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act will help make mental health services more affordable and accessible for tens of millions of Americans.

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing the following awards:

More than $34 million to train just over 4000 new mental health providers, including:

$30.3 million to expand the mental health workforce through 100 new grants to training programs to train new mental health and substance abuse health professionals who treat children, adolescents, and young adults with, or at risk for, a mental health or substance use disorder.

$2.7 million for 5 new grants to support youth Minority Fellowship Programs to increase access to mental health services for youth and young adults in America.
$1.6 million for 2 new grants to support addiction counselor Minority Fellowship Programs to increase access to substance abuse treatment services for youth in America.

More than $48 million to support teachers, schools and communities in recognizing and responding to mental health issues among youth, creating safe and secure schools and promoting the mental health of students in communities across the country through 120 new Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grants to state and local educational agencies.

$16.7 million to support 17 new Healthy Transitions grants, to improve access to treatment and support services for youth and young adults ages 16 to 25 that either have, or are at high risk of developing, a serious mental health condition.
To see the lists of award winners, visit

www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2014tables/behavioralworkforce/

http://beta.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/fy14-grant-awards-nitt.pdf

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