SouthRiver Community Health Center – a Patient Centered Primary Care Home serving the greater Winston area – was selected by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to receive funding to expand access to mental health services, and substance abuse services focusing on the treatment, prevention, and awareness of opioid abuse.
Through the combination of one-time and ongoing funding in the amount of $170,321, SouthRiver will address priority integrated care needs through investments in mental health and substance abuse services personnel, health information technology and training.
According to HRSA, substance use and mental health disorders have life-long, costly effects on patients, their families, and communities. Despite being treatable, a gap remains between the services available and the number of patients receiving needed services. In announcing the award, HRSA Administrator Dr. George Sigounas stated, “Nationally, about half of all care for common mental health conditions happens in the primary care settings.” Adding, “In health centers, where people are often most comfortable, staff with varied expertise have a unique opportunity to provide mental health and substance abuse services to patients who wouldn’t otherwise seek or have access to treatment.”
For more information about the impact of integrating mental health and substance abuse services at the community level, and a list of FY 2017 AIMS award recipients, visit: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about.
More information about SouthRiver Community Health Center is available at www.south-river.org.