HHS Awards Grants for Mental Health Support

The Department of Health andHuman Services (HHS) has awarded$600,000 in emergency grants toensure that mental health assessmentand crisis counseling are provided inareas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.The grants are Emergency ResponseGrants from HHs' Substance Abuseand Mental Health Services Administration.The funds allocated include:

• $200,000 for Louisiana. The fundswill provide counseling to disasterworkers and first responders.Louisiana will create a team ofbehavioral health specialists.
• $100,000 for Alabama. The statewill create funding to supportclinical assessments and psychiatricservices, medications, andbrief interventions
• $150,000 for Texas. The state highlightedprovision of methadonemedications and related activitiesas its greatest need for support
• $150,000 for Mississippi. Thestate identified behavioral healthexpenses related to emergencysupport for individuals in mentalhealth treatment facilities