The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced close to $3.7 million in federal funding for health centers in West Virginia.
This includes close to $530,000 for projects in southern West Virginia. Monroe County Health Center in Union was awarded $175,700; New River Health Association in Scarbro was awarded $175,701 and Rainelle Medical Center in Rainelle was awarded $175,700.
This funding will help increase access to substance abuse and mental health services by providing support to increase personnel and leverage health information. It also will help with training to support the expansion of mental health and substance abuse services and integration into primary care.
U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced the federal funding in a Thursday news release.
Capito said funding is critical to helping West Virginians access substance abuse and mental health care.
“Not only will it help provide critical health services to those struggling with addiction and mental illness but it will also help create jobs in our state and improve the care available in our rural communities,” Capito said in the release. “Having visited many of these health centers myself, I know very well how much this funding will help and I’m thrilled to see so many receive the resources they need to provide important care to West Virginians.”
Manchin said he looks forward to centers using funds to create a healthier West Virginia.
“We need to support those on the front lines of the opioid crisis in every way possible,” Manchin said in the release. “These funds will provide the necessary resources to health centers and professionals fighting the opioid battle. I’ve watched first-hand our health professionals do great work, and I look forward to them utilizing these funds to create a healthier West Virginia.”
