The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has allocated $31.4m in total funding for enhancing behavioural health services for racial and ethnic minorities.
This aligns with the government's commitment to addressing mental health and the overdose crisis.
The funding includes $18.5m for State Opioid Response/Tribal Opioid Response Technical Assistance.
This initiative is designed to provide technical assistance and training to support trauma-informed, culturally relevant, and evidence-based substance use-related approaches nationwide.
The goal is to mitigate the effects of opioid and stimulant use disorders on individuals, families, and communities.
Additionally, $5.7m has been allocated to the Minority AIDS Initiative: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Prevention and Treatment Pilot Program.
This programme focuses on providing substance use prevention, SUD treatment, and HIV and viral hepatitis prevention and treatment services to medically underserved populations vulnerable to SUD, mental health conditions, HIV, viral hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.
A further $2.7m has been directed towards the National Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions. This programme promotes the integration of physical and behavioral health care by offering high-quality, evidence-informed training and technical assistance, with a particular emphasis on the Collaborative Care Model.
The government is also investing $2.6m in the Minority AIDS Initiative: Integrated Behavioral Health and HIV Care for Unsheltered Populations Pilot Project.
This initiative aims to pilot a portable clinical care model that integrates behavioral health, HIV treatment, and prevention services for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
A further $1.9m has been earmarked for the National Peer-Run Training and Technical Assistance Center for Addiction Recovery Support.
This programme provides training and technical assistance to domestic public and private non-profit entities that deliver or support services for individuals facing substance use or co-occurring conditions.
