The Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) has awarded
$600,000 in emergency grants to
ensure that mental health assessment
and crisis counseling are provided in
areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
The grants are Emergency Response
Grants from HHs' Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration.
The funds allocated include:
- $200,000 for Louisiana. The funds
will provide counseling to disaster
workers and first responders.
Louisiana will create a team of
behavioral health specialists.
- $100,000 for Alabama. The state
will create funding to support
clinical assessments and psychiatric
services, medications, and
brief interventions
- $150,000 for Texas. The state highlighted
provision of methadone
medications and related activities
as its greatest need for support
- $150,000 for Mississippi. The
state identified behavioral health
expenses related to emergency
support for individuals in mental
health treatment facilities