WASHINGTON, D.C. – Mental health service providers in Hays and Hoxie are among the 17 agencies in Kansas receiving a total of $2.8 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve mental health services and combat the opioid epidemic.
The announcement was made last week during National Health Center Week, an annual celebration to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of American health centers over the past five decades.
As part of this celebration, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the agency is awarding $400 million dollars to improve mental health services and combat the opioid epidemic. Within this award $200 million will go to community health centers (CHC) which are vital to the health of rural communities. These investments will enable CHCs to expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services.
The national total award is $200,736,849 to 1,208 health centers across the country.
The 17 health centers in Kansas will receive a total of $2,839,000, or $167,000 each, to support more patients and expand services. Funding will go towards hiring more mental health professionals, professional development and training, and IT and telehealth services.
Additionally, funding will go to efforts to defeat the opioid epidemic, by empowering communities through outreach and partnerships with local organizations.