Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded grants totaling $18,096,031 to health organizations across the state of Nevada. These grants will go to prevent and treat substance use disorders, support the community health centers that have been at the forefront of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, assist those living with HIV/AIDS, and monitor water quality to protect public health.
“Nevadans’ physical and mental health is always my first priority. I’m glad to see these funds going to help vulnerable Nevadans, including those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, HIV/AIDS, and substance use disorders. I will always work in the U.S. Senate to get Nevadans resources to keep themselves and their families healthy and to ensure people in the Silver State can get treatment and support for whatever ails them.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto has focused on mental and behavioral health issues during her time in the Senate, including substance use disorders. She has introduced legislation to improve emergency services’ responses to mental health crises, to fund virtual peer support behavioral health programs, and to ensure communities of color have access to mental health care. She has also called on the administration to do more for mental health disorders and asked Congressional leadership to address mental health needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Among the grant funds from HHS, $16,786,539 will be distributed as follows:
- $16,536,539 to the State of Nevada Health Division to address marijuana and prescription drug use at schools
- $125,000 to PACT Coalition for Safe and Drug Free Communities to address opioid use
- $125,000 to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California to address opioid use
In addition to supporting substance abuse and mental health treatments, Senator Cortez Masto has been an advocate for community health centers, which offer care to the most vulnerable patients. In these grants, $1,169,492 in HHS funds will be disbursed as follows to Nevada health centers:
- $293,302 to the Community Health Alliance
- $202,917 to Nevada Health Centers, Inc.
- $195,991 to First Person Care Clinic
- $189,933 to Firstmed Health and Wellness Center
- $171,600 to Silver State Health Services
- $71,649 to Northern Nevada HIV Outpatient Program
- $35,750 to Hope Christian Health Center Corp.
- $8,250 to Southern Nevada Health District
In addition, the grants announced today include $140,000 for the Southern Nevada Health District to monitor water quality in Clark County.
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