SAMHSA News Release

Date: 8/6/2012 2:50 PM
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA awards more than $4 million to expand care coordination through the use of Health Information Technology

Awards will fund the use of technology to aid providers in expanding access to treatment and recovery support

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Administrator Pamela S. Hyde today announced more than $4 million in new grants for Health Information Technology (HIT) service for communities across the nation. The purpose of this program is to leverage technology to enhance and/or expand the capacity of substance abuse treatment providers to serve people who traditionally have been underserved because of lack of access to treatment in their immediate community. This lack of access can be due to transportation concerns, an inadequate number of substance abuse treatment providers in their community, and /or financial constraints.

The use of HIT, including web-based services, smart phones, and behavioral health electronic applications (e-apps), will expand and/or enhance the ability of providers to effectively communicate with persons in treatment and to track and manage their health to ensure treatment and services are available where and when needed. Grantees will use technology that will support recovery and resiliency efforts and promote wellness.

“One of the most important recent advances in medicine is the application of information technology to health care,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “It is important that the behavioral health field be part of these technological advances to reach people who need treatment with safe, high-quality care.”

The six awardees will receive up to $840,000 for the three year projects. Continuations of these awards are subject to availability of funds and progress achieved by the awardees. The following is a list of the grant awardees and their grant amounts.

Grantee

City

State

Award

Buffalo Valley, Inc.

Hohenwald

Tenn.

$840,000

State of Iowa – Iowa Dept. of Public Health

Des Moines

Iowa

$838,200

First Choice Services, Inc.

Charleston

W.Va.

$790,083

Forest County Potawatomi Community

Crandon

Wis.

$840,000

Irene Stacy Community Mental Health Center

Butler

Pa.

$718,547

Promesa Behavioral Health Inc.

Fresno

Calif.

$840,000


SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.



Last updated: 8/6/2012 2:55 PM

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