In September, Greater Portland Health received a $293,750 grant award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support providing expanded substance use and mental health services. HRSA announced it would provide more than $352 million in funding nationwide with $4.9 million going to 17 Maine community health centers through its Expanding Access to Quality Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services award. This award is one of multiple awards described in a recent HHS announcement, which support HHS’s Five-Point Opioid Strategy to combat the national opioid crisis.

At Greater Portland Health, this funding will support a Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA)-waivered provider’s time, medical assistants, and a clinical social worker that is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor to expand access to substance use and mental health services. Greater Portland Health offers integrated substance use and mental health services, including Medication Assisted Treatment, to patients in the greater Portland area through our Greater Pathways Program. The Greater Pathways team consists of primary care providers, DATA-waivered providers, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric providers, a peer support coordinator, a program coordinator, and medical assistants who work with patients with substance use disorders along the path to recovery.

“We are grateful to receive funding from HRSA to support additional staff to expand access to mental health and substance use services for our patients.” -  Ann Tucker, CEO