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Friday, Sept. 20, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, announced $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand mental health and substance use services in Jefferson County and the Black Belt. Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS) in Birmingham and Rural Health Medical Program in Selma were each awarded $600,000 to expand access to needed care and combat the mental health and opioid crises. The awards are part of a $240 million investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to launch and expand behavioral health care services in Community Health Centers across America.
“When our most vulnerable Alabamians are in need of care, it is the amazing health care professionals at our Community Health Centers who stand in the gap,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am thrilled that the Biden-Harris Administration is working to expand mental health and substance use treatments for the patients that these facilities serve. These awards represent a critical step forward in our fight against the mental health and opioid crises.”
“Alabama Regional Medical Services is deeply honored to receive this significant funding from HRSA to expand and integrate behavioral health services into primary care,” said Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS) CEO, Dr. Thomas Greer, Jr. “Our communities are increasingly facing mental health and substance use disorders challenges, and this award will allow us to better serve our patients. With this investment, ARMS will be better positioned to help address these challenges and achieve improved mental health and wellness outcomes in Birmingham, Alabama and the surrounding areas. We thank HRSA for this award and for recognizing the need in the City of Birmingham and for their continued partnership with ARMS in providing quality health care to children, youth and families in our community.”
“I want to thank the Health and Human Services 330 Grant Branch for allowing us the opportunity to receive this funding,” said Rural Health Medical Program CEO Keshee Dozier-Smith. “I also want to thank Congresswoman Terri Sewell for continuing to support our efforts within her district. We know she fights every day for health equity and other needed resources in our community and we know through her support and others who represent the State of Alabama this funding was made available for us to expand these services.”
Health centers are trusted community providers and a primary source of care for individuals across the country who are uninsured, underinsured, or enrolled in Medicaid—making them well-positioned to respond to the urgent need for behavioral health services that are high quality, stigma-free, culturally competent and readily accessible.
A full list of Alabama Community Health Centers receiving funding is available here. More information on the announcement can be found here.
