Led by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), several federal agencies have announced major investments of $300 million in grants to support behavioral health education, training, and community-based programs that address an array of youth and adult mental health and addiction issues.
In announcing the new investments and grants, Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services said, “Far too many Americans, especially young people, are struggling with behavioral health challenges. Ultimately, these programs will improve equity and access to mental health and substance use care, and prevention and recovery services for people across the United States.”
In the first set of initiatives, SAMHSA announced new funding for 11 major behavioral health programs under the auspices of SAMHSA, including the Minority Fellowship Program ($15.5 million), which aims to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racial and ethnic populations. Another $53 million was allocated for an array of programs under SAMHSA, including investing in the newest evidence-based resources, tools, and support to accelerate the integration of primary care and behavioral health care.
Under a separate set of funding initiatives, SAMHSA, the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will receive $208 million to support at-risk youth and families; train pediatricians in mental health care and provide teleconsultation for pediatricians to get support from mental health providers; and train more behavioral health providers, including counselors, focused on serving children and young adults in underserved and rural areas.
To address the alarming prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity, HRSA is also awarding almost $19 million to 15 states to implement innovative strategies to address the maternal health crisis. As part of this overall effort, HRSA has already launched a National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (833-TLC-MAMA) in 2022.
NBCC will monitor the implementation of these key initiatives and report on opportunities for counselors to participate in all these efforts.
