HHS offers awards for supporting mental health in youths
Nearly $245 million was awarded in Bipartisan Safer Communities Act funding from the US Department of Health and Human Services to help health care workers support mental health in youths and families.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded almost $245 million to support health care workers helping families meet mental health needs.
The funding came from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, with $185.7 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and almost $60 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
In June 2022, President Joe Biden signed President Biden’s Unity Agenda as part of the administration’s efforts to manage the ongoing mental health crisis in children. This has given vital resources to the HHS for supporting children and families nationwide.
There were 5 awards given from SAMHSA. The first of these was given to Project Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education, so that health programs and services may be created and managed in schools.
The second award was given to Mental Health Awareness Training, so that law enforcement, school personnel, and emergency first responders could be trained to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health issues, promoting early intervention.
The third award was given to School Based Trauma-Informed Support Services and Mental Health Care for Children and Youth, so that students may have improved access to trauma support services and mental health care that is culturally relevant and evidence-based.
The fourth award was given to the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, so that children, adolescents, and families who have experienced traumatic events may receive improved treatment and services.
The final award was given to Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma, to prevent violence in communities facing civil unrest, community violence, or collective trauma through the promotion of resilience and equity.
Almost $60,000 was given by the HRSA into supporting an initiative for mental health training to be given to primary care clinicians. In particular, the training would focus on mental health in children and adolescents.
Reference
HHS awards nearly $245 million to support youth mental health and help the health care workforce meet families’ mental health needs. HHS. January 9, 2023. Accessed January 18, 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/01/09/hhs-awards-nearly-245-million-support-youth-mental-health-and-help-health-care-workforce-meet-families-mental-health-needs.html
