SVCHS to Receive $167,000 Grant

Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems (SVCHS) is the recipient of a $167,000 grant through federal funding of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHA).

The funding will go to the expansion of behavioral health services, which encompasses the treatment of mental illness and substance use disorder.

Marcy Rosenbaum, SVCHS’ Director of Behavioral Health and New Day Recovery, said, “According to the SAMSHA-HRSA Center for Integrated health Solutions, 1 in 5 people have a mental illness or addiction and over 1 in 5 adults with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use disorder.  Unfortunately, southwest Virginia is lacking in treatment resources.  At SVCHS, we are able to provide mental health, substance abuse, and physical health treatment all in one location.   We look forward to using this funding to expand our services to the people in our region.”

This grant was announced on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 by Virginia Senators Mark. R. Warner and Tim Kaine.

“This federal funding will help ensure that these clinics can continue to provide lifesaving treatment for addiction,” the Senators said. “With many Virginia communities affected by substance abuse, we’re pleased to announce these grants to help clinics across the Commonwealth tackle this crisis.”

SVCHS was one of 21 recipients in the Commonwealth of Virginia with the grant money totaling $3,426,635 for all the health clinics.

SVCHS CEO Bryan Haynes said, “This grant will benefit all service locations of SVCHS. It will allow SVCHS to bolster its’ behavioral health program including expanding services to patients with substance abuse disorders.”

This funding was awarded through HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Integrated Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Program.