Grace Health Receives Behavioral Health Expansion Grant from Kentucky’s Behavioral Health Expansion (BHE) initiative.
Grace Health is excited to announce that it has been awarded $600,000 as part of Kentucky’s Behavioral Health Expansion (BHE) initiative. This grant will allow Grace Health to expand critical behavioral health services in both school-based health settings and clinics. Grace Health is one of only eight health centers in the state selected to receive this funding.
This grant is part of a larger national effort by the Biden-Harris administration to strengthen mental health and substance use disorder treatment. It is designed to integrate these services into primary care, ensuring more comprehensive care for those who need it most.
A National Initiative for Mental Health Services
In September 2024, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced $240 million in nationwide awards. This funding will help expand mental health and substance use disorder services across more than 400 community health centers (CHCs) serving over 10 million people. Grace Health’s $600,000 grant is important to this nationwide initiative.
Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care
“Access to behavioral health care is critical for communities of color and underserved groups,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “HRSA-funded health centers have a proven record of success in reaching underserved communities. This funding expands their access to essential behavioral health services that will benefit entire communities.
Grace Health’s Commitment to Mental Health Services
Grace Health’s $600,000 grant is a two-year award from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2026. With this funding, Grace Health will add 12 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff members, including mental health providers in schools and clinics, substance use disorder treatment support staff, and community health workers (CHWs). These positions are vital to meeting the growing demand for mental health and substance use disorder services in our community.
“We are honored to be among the recipients of this significant grant,” said Michael Stanley, CEO of Grace Health. “This funding will greatly enhance our ability to serve the mental health needs of our patients. It will allow us to expand access to mental health services in schools and clinics, ensuring that people who need these services the most can access them.”
The Future of Behavioral Health Expansion
The total funding for the Behavioral Health Expansion initiative is $4.7 million, with additional funding opportunities based on each project’s success. This initiative aims to increase the number of mental health providers and patients served, strengthening the mental health care infrastructure nationwide.
Grace Health remains committed to improving access to quality care and mental health services for patients of all ages. With this grant, the organization will continue serving as a trusted behavioral health service provider, particularly in underserved areas.
Learn more about our behavioral health services on our services page. We encourage anyone interested in working with our team to apply using the Careers page.
