The Providence Center Awarded $3.2 Million in SAMHSA Grants
PROVIDENCE, RI (October 6, 2010)—The Providence Center was awarded a total of $3.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) to support its mental health and substance use recovery services for adults, children, adolescents and families in Rhode Island. The most recent grant provides $2 million over four years for the integration of primary and behavioral health care at The Providence Center’s 530 North Main Street location in Providence through a partnership with the Providence and Blackstone Valley Community Health Centers.
The partnership establishes The Providence Center as the primary medical home for 200 clients with mental illness each year. Clients are screened and referred to appropriate integrated behavioral health and physical health services and a full array of support and recovery-oriented services including housing, employment and education, legal services, family counseling, social skill building and extensive case management. Specialized services focusing on the needs of minority populations are available for African American and Latino clients.
Studies show that the lifespan for people with mental health and substance use problems is 25 years less than the general population because of high occurrences other conditions that often contribute to poor overall health—heart disease, obesity, smoking and poor nutrition. “Chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes are typically seen among our clients,” said Dale K. Klatzker, Ph.D., president/CEO of The Providence Center. “Accessing and following up with primary care is often a challenge for our clients, but with on-site primary care at their community mental health center, there is no wrong door to for them to get care that will help them live a full and productive life.”
Nurses from the Providence and Blackstone Valley Community Health Centers are embedded in The Providence Center’s assertive community treatment teams, which serve individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental health and/or co-occurring substance use problems. The nurses and team members work with each client to develop a person-centered recovery plan that emphasizes the client’s individual strengths, goals and needs.
The wellness component of the integrated care partnership connects clients to current physical health programs such as InShape and other minority-oriented wellness programs at The Providence Center. InShape is an evidence-based program that pairs participants with personal health mentors to develop individualized wellness plans and provides access to fitness activities, smoking cessation programs and nutrition education.
In September, The Providence Center also received a $1.2 million grant for the establishment of Recovery Net, a collaborative initiative between The Providence Center, Providence Community Health Centers, Blackstone Valley Health Care, RI Communities for Addiction Recovery Efforts (RICAREs) and Brown University. Recovery Net supports recovery services specifically designed to meet the needs of 250 ex-offenders in short-term recovery from mental health and substance use problems who are re-entering the greater Providence community from men’s minimum security at the RI Department of Corrections.
The announcement of the grant awards follows the release of SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which revealed an increase in the overall rate of current illicit drug use in the U.S. between 2008 and 2009 among persons aged 12 and over from 8.0 percent to 8.7 percent. The survey also indicates that access to substance use treatment is a concern—23.5 million Americans aged 12 and older need treatment, but only 2.6 million receive services.
“The National Survey on Drug Use and Health tells us that people need treatment, but don’t actually receive it,” said Klatzker. “It is our goal to make treatment more accessible through initiatives like Recovery Net and the integrated primary care partnership to create a positive environment that supports people in recovery.”
The Providence Center annually serves over 10,000 adults, children and adolescents experiencing mental illness, substance use and emotional problems. Since its establishment in 1969, The Providence Center has been part of Rhode Island’s exemplary behavioral health care system, offering a comprehensive array of treatment and rehabilitation services. For more information 401-276-4020.