Here’s a recap of the most recent efforts from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to address social determinants of health (SDoH) including climate change, mental health, and equitable language access.
Nearly $130M investment to expand behavioral health access
HHS, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has awarded $127.7 million to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) across the country, the latest efforts from the Biden administration to target the country’s ongoing mental health crisis and opioid epidemic.
The investment comes amid the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963, which established a system of community-based care, instead of institutional care, across the U.S. for people with mental illness.
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are transforming mental health and substance use treatment by providing equitable access to services for all Americans,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in the announcement. “After 60 years, the vision of the Community Mental Health Act of 1963, is being realized, and CCBHCs are making that possible.”
The awards include 128 grants to health clinics in 40 states and Puerto Rico. Each awardee will receive up to $1 million per year for four years to establish and implement new CCBHC programs and enhance existing ones.
In 2017, the first CCBHCs were funded under Medicaid, with 67 operating in eight states. Today, there are more than 500 CCBHCs in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
New community challenge launch to address environmental injustice
HHS has launched a nation-wide Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge in an effort to support disadvantaged communities and Tribes disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices.
For the challenge, HHS will award a total of $1 million to community-level initiatives addressing health inequities, such as air quality, drinking water, and healthy environment.
“With this HHS Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge, the Biden-Harris Administration is signaling our commitment to ongoing partnership at the community level in support of environmental justice. Last year, we established the HHS Office of Environmental Justice to coordinate efforts like this one, which is aimed at strengthening community capacity and supporting community, and Tribal-led solutions to advance environmental justice and health equity,” said Becerra.
Participants can submit entries to the challenge based on a range of environmental justice efforts, including:
- Innovative strategies that address health disparities in communities disproportionately impacted by risks related to climate change.
- The use of data tools used to identify patterns of inequities to support community resilience.
- Successful community-based partnerships or Tribal organizations addressing climate change risks and community resilience.
- Community-based projects focused on project planning, needs assessment, budgeting, engagement with community members, and grant application writing to address environmental hazards.
- Efforts to address mental health impacts of environmental and climate change-related risks.
The challenge will have two phases. The first will focus on design of concept or developmental approach. HHS will accept entries from September 18 to January 30. The second phase will focus on small-scale testing or implementation, with entries beginning in spring 2024.
For more details on how to enter the challenge, click here.
An $8M investment to improve health care access to those with disabilities, LEP
HHS, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has announced more than $8 million in funding distributed to 18 awardees to use toward training and education initiatives for medical students to learn how to care for individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency (LEP), both of which are underserved communities.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to improving health equity and ensuring that all patients have access to health care providers with the training and skills to meet their needs,” said Becerra in the announcement. “Today we are making it easier for a person with a physical or developmental disability or who speaks limited English to see a physician who understands them and their health care needs. HHS will continue to take action to reduce barriers to care and support the health care workforce and the patients they serve.”
The investment aims to address existing gaps in health care training that hinder access to care by providing additional training and education to primary care trainees on how to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care to individuals with physical or intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as LEP.