Congressional Delegation Announces $4.2 Million To Expand Behavioral Health Services
At a time when when health centers are only able to meet about 27% of the demand for mental health services and just 6% for substance use disorder treatment, Connecticut’s congressional delegation announced a federal grant to expand both options in the state on Monday.
Both US Senators and all five members of Congress signed onto a statement released Monday detailing $4.2 million to be distributed to seven community health centers in Connecticut for the expansion of mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services.
Shawn K. Frick, CEO of the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, welcomed the funding.
“Connecticut’s seventeen Community Health Centers provide health care to 430,000 people across our state and provided over 800,000 behavioral health visits last year,” Frick said. “Our health centers serve all people, regardless of ability to pay, including those on Medicare, Medicaid/HUSKY, commercial insurance, and with no insurance – making this federal funding even more important.”
Frick said the association appreciates the funding, which will help seven of his association’s Community Health Centers “expand capacity to meet a growing demand for these services,” and to improve the health of our communities.
The federal funding, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will support critical services at seven federally qualified community health centers in Connecticut. Each of the following will receive $600,000:
- Charter Oak Health Center in Hartford;
- Connecticut Institute for Communities in Danbury;
- Cornell Scott Hill Health in New Haven;
- Fair Haven Community Health Clinic in New Haven;
- Norwalk Community Health Center in Norwalk;
- United Community and Family Services Inc. in Norwich, and;
- Wheeler Clinic Inc. in Plainville.
US Sen. Richard Blumenthal described the services provided by these seven Community Health Centers as “crucial,” and said the fundings will help them save more lives.
“The need for these services has never been higher as Connecticut confronts an ongoing mental health crisis,” Blumenthal said. “These health centers are on the frontlines of providing care to those who need it most and I am thrilled that they will receive robust support to expand and continue this work.”
US Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, said that as the top Democrat on the Labor-Health and Human-Services subcommittee, she is proud to support “this critical $4.2 million investment.” And none too soon as her district lost one of its largest in-patient drug rehab facilities in June.
The 80-bed Retreat Behavioral Health at 915 Ella Grasso Boulevard in New Haven, which also ran an outpatient program, abruptly closed its doors with questions lingering about why and what would come next for its employees and recovering substance abusers.
The facility was very busy and closed following the death of its CEO, Peter Schorr.
DeLauro commended the Biden-Harris administration for prioritizing funds for essential services.
“This is a triumph for every person and family affected by the opioid and mental health crises, and for our Federally Qualified Health Centers who are on the frontlines,” DeLauro said, adding, “I will continue to support investments that will have a positive impact on our district.”
According to the release, a new report from Mental Health America demonstrates the need for the expansion of services, finding that the vast majority of people with a substance use disorder in the US are not receiving treatment. One in five youth had at least one major depressive episode in the last year – with over half not receiving treatment, and 10% of adults with a mental illness are uninsured.