The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that Rhode Island will receive $40.7 million over the next two years to improve access to behavioral and mental health services.
The funding, which is part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed by Congress last year, is aimed at increasing the number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers in the state.
These clinics provide integrated mental health, substance abuse disorder, behavioral health, and medical care, as well as 24/7 access to crisis intervention services. The goal is to ensure that any patient in need of care can receive the support and treatment they need, regardless of their diagnosis or insurance status.
The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics model has been shown to reduce homelessness and substance use among the people it serves, as well as decrease the use of emergency rooms and hospitalization. In addition, research has shown that behavioral health services can help improve overall well-being and increase productivity.
The state can use federal funding to help expand access to integrated, evidence-based addiction and mental health services to meet the needs of people in their communities. The hope is that this will help to improve the quality of life for Rhode Islanders and reduce the impact of mental illness and substance abuse.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
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