HHS Awards $10M in Grants To Study and Treat Traumatic Stress Disorders in Children; Other Grants Announced
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announced on Oct. 3 $10 million in grants to establish the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, an effort that aims to improve treatment and services for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events. The funds, provided by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will create a network of centers to "identify or develop" treatments, collect clinical data and develop resources for doctors and the public. The complete list of cities and facilities receiving these grants can be found online (HHS release, 10/3).
Grants for Disaster-Preparedness
Thompson also announced $10 million in funding to develop Metropolitan Medical Response Systems in 25 cities to prepare for "rapid, coordinated medical response" to large public emergencies. The contracts are specifically intended to improve a city's ability to respond to chemical or biological attacks, but can also respond to any event involving "mass casualties." The 25 cities, selected by their population size, will each receive $600,000 over two years. MMRSs "typically" cost approximately $2.5 million and are "primarily" paid for by local governments. The complete list of cities receiving the grants can be found
online (HHS release, 10/3).
Expanding Organ Donation
Finally, Thompson announced $10 million in grants that will fund research that investigates how to increase the number of organ and tissue donors nationwide. Part of the Gift of Life Donation Initiative, announced in April by Thompson, the grants are intended to address the country's "critical shortage of donors." More than 78,000 people are on a nationwide waiting list for transplants, and nearly 5,500 people die each year waiting for an organ. Funding for these grants will come from the Health Resources and Services Administration and will total approximately $3.3 million in the first year. The complete list of grantees can be found online (HHS release, 10/3).
