What's New at FHN
FHN Awarded $150,000 Mental Health Expansion Grant
August 28, 2008 - Reaching Out: A Rural Mental Health and Substance Abuse Expansion Program
In Cortland County, access to mental health services for low-income people is very limited, both for those who are not seriously mentally ill and, more recently, for those with a serious mental illness diagnosis. Services are provided primarily in the City of Cortland, which is up to a 40 mile round trip for residents coming in from remote areas, many of which are served by Family Health Network of Central New York, Inc. (FHN). The Cortland County Community Services Board’s (the county planning body for mental health) 2006-2009 Plan for Mental Health Services identifies Access to Services for Children as its number one priority. The Strategic Plan for Health, developed by the Community Assessment Health Track Team as part of the Cortland Counts process (a comprehensive assessment of health needs, supported by the Cortland County Health Department, United Way, SUNY Cortland, Cortland Regional Medical Center, and Seven Valleys Health Coalition), lists the need to Increase the Availability and Accessibility of Behavioral Health Services as its priority goal, particularly for children, adolescents and for residents in the small, isolated townships throughout the county.
On August 28, 2008, FHN was notified that they are a recipient of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Expansion Grant. The goal of the Service Expansion funding opportunity is to increase access to mental health/substance abuse (MH/SA), oral health and pharmacy services at health centers funded under section 330 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 254b). FHN’s proposal, Reaching Out: A Rural Mental Health and Substance Abuse Expansion Program, is intended to address the mental health/substance abuse needs of Cortland County outlined above. Funding from this grant will allow FHN to provide mental health services directly in their current medical clinics to their current patients. For further information, feel free to call 607-753-3797.