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Health Center Gets $600,000 Federal Grant
A federal grant of $600,000 has been awarded to the Rockbridge Area Health Center for the purpose of expanding behavioral health services.
“The funding will address critical needs for residents battling mental health and substance use disorders,” said Suzanne Sheridan, RAHC CEO, “by [allowing us to hire] additional licensed mental health providers [while] expanding telehealth services and integrating behavioral health into primary care increasing service capacity and accessibility.”
The funding is part of a $3.5 million federal funding package announced Friday by U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to expand behavioral health services in Virginia. RAHC is one of six Virginia-based health centers to receive the funding, which was awarded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s behavioral health service expansion program.
“Behavioral health care is a critical part of caring for our communities and we need to do more to expand access to this support,” said Kaine and Warner in a joint announcement. “We’re glad this funding will help community health centers across Virginia reach more Virginians and provide them with the behavioral health services they need.”
“Stigma surrounding mental health and SUD [substance abuse disorders] remains a major barrier to seeking treatment,” noted Sheridan. “Individuals with these conditions often face judgment and discrimination from their communities, which can deter them from accessing care.”
She stated that “limited funding, lack of personnel and insufficient knowledge about mental health issues are also significant barriers. We will use this funding to improve the existing infrastructure to manage the volume of patients requiring mental health and SUD treatment, decreasing wait times and improving the availability of care.”
She said RAHC will continue collaborating with local social service agencies to address patients’ social needs such as housing and transportation, ensuring a holistic approach to care. The plan also includes implementing community outreach and education campaigns to reduce stigma and promote the importance of seeking treatment for mental health and SUDs. The grant funding will also benefit RAHC’s school-based health centers to provide sufficient mental health support to students and staff.
Rockbridge Area Health Center serves medical, dental, and behavioral health patients in Lexington, Buena Vista, Rockbridge County and Kendal at Lexington. In addition, RAHC’s mobile medical and dental units serve patients in the outlying remote areas of the county. RAHC serves all patients regardless of income or insurance status.
