The Delta Health Center, Inc. (DHC) was awarded a $600,000 federal Project Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the Community Health Centers program (CFDA 93.224). The grant will enable DHC, a federally qualified health center serving underserved communities in Mississippi's Delta region, to expand the availability, accessibility, and utilization of mental health and substance use treatment services across its network of 11 primary care sites.
Specifically, the grant will support two key goals: 1) integrating addiction treatment services, including a substance abuse counselor and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), into DHC's primary care practices; and 2) initiating mental health services for pediatric patients by hiring a full-time mental health professional experienced in child and adolescent counseling. The project aims to increase the number of patients receiving behavioral health services to address significant workforce shortages, lengthy wait times, and access barriers in the DHC service area. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026.