The Community Health Center of the New River Valley was recently awarded $167,000 as part of an Integrated Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) program grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enable community health centers, rural organizations and academic institutions to establish and expand access to integrated substance use disorder and mental health services. The grant will enable the Community Health Center to hire two new behavioral health staff at our Christiansburg and Dublin locations.
The Community Health Center serves patients through an integrated model of care. Integrated care blends the expertise of mental health providers, primary care clinicians, and dentists with feedback from patients and their caregivers. This creates a team-based approach where mental health, medical and dental care are offered in the same setting and under one roof. Coordinating primary care and mental health care in this way holistically addresses both physical and mental health challenges.
“As an Integrated Behavioral Services (IBHS) program award recipient, this grant will allow us to expand our behavioral health services to ensure our community can access the mental health care they need,” said Ashley Slagel-Perry, LCSW and Behavioral Health Program Manager.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable. To learn more about HRSA visit https://www.hrsa.gov/.
The Community Health Center of the New River Valley provides affordable and high quality medical, dental, behavioral and preventive health care services to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay. For more information about the Community Health Center’s services and programs in Dublin, Christiansburg and Pearisburg, visit our website at www.chcnrv.org or call 381-0820.