HHS Awards Funds for New Women’s Health Community Centers, Mental Health Services for Children
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Oct. 9 said that the department will establish five new National Community Centers of Excellence in Women's Health, which will raise the total number to 12 nationwide. The new centers -- which will operate in Birmingham, Ala.; Derby, Conn.; Wilmington, Del.; Clearwater, Fla.; and Honolulu, Hawaii -- will "coordinate all aspects of issues related to women's health" and help address "cultural and socioeconomic challenges" to care for underserved women. Each center will receive $150,000 per year for the next five years to fund operations. Thompson said, "We know that the best way to ensure culturally appropriate care for the nation's underserved citizens is through integrated community-based care. This program expands successful models of care that have worked wonders in other communities" (HHS release, 10/9).
$17M for Children's Mental Health
In related news, Thompson also announced a $17 million grant for a six-year program that will fund 18 cooperative agreements to establish "systems of care" communities. The communities will provide mental health services to children with emotional disorders and their families. The announcement marks the fifth issuance of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration "Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and Their Families." The funds will help increase coordination of mental health services among "child-serving sectors" and will develop services for children with emotional disorders and their families. More than 50,000 children have received services from the program since 1993. SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said, "This program is intended to establish a network of child-serving agencies and community organizations to form individualized teams around children with serious emotional disturbance" (SAMHSA release, 10/9).
