Brown, RIC to share $216K for mental health training programs

RHODE ISLAND received $216,697 in awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors in the state.
RHODE ISLAND received $216,697 in awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors in the state.

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island received $216,697 in awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to increase the number of mental health providers and substance abuse counselors in the state. The funds, announced Thursday, will benefit training programs at Brown University ($57,142) and Rhode Island College ($159,555).

In 2015, 55 million adult Americans had a mental or substance use disorder. That translates to one out five adults, yet less than 39 percent of those affected received treatment, according to Kana Enomoto, principal deputy administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Nationally, SAMHSA and the Health Resources and Services Administration are funding 144 new and continuing grants for a total of $44.5 million through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program, which supports clinical internships and field placements for professional and paraprofessional behavioral health disciplines and occupations.

“The program emphasizes integrating behavioral health, primary care, violence awareness and prevention, and the involvement of families in the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders,” HRSA Acting Administrator Jim Macrae said in a press release. “This emphasis helps strengthen the next generation of behavioral health workforce providers so they can work more effectively in a variety of 21st century health care settings.”

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HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said the grants are an important step toward ensuring Americans of all ages have access to quality mental health and substance abuse services “by creating an educational pipeline for future behavioral health providers so people in need can get the care they deserve.”

For a complete list of fiscal year 2016 BHWET recipients, visit bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/mentalbehavioral/fy16bhwetawards.html.

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