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The office of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, announced $600,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to expand mental health and substance use services in the Black Belt.

Rural Health Medical Program in Selma was awarded $600,000 to expand access to needed care and combat the mental health and opioid crises. The award is part of a $240 million investment by the Biden-Harris Administration to launch and expand behavioral health care services in Community Health Centers across America.

“I want to thank the Health and Human Services 330 Grant Branch for allowing us the opportunity to receive this funding,” said Rural Health Medical Program CEO Keshee Dozier-Smith. “I also want to thank Congresswoman Terri Sewell for continuing to support our efforts within her district. We know she fights every day for health equity and other needed resources in our community and we know through her support and others who represent the State of Alabama this funding was made available for us to expand these services.”

A separate grant was issued to Alabama Regional Medical Services (ARMS) in Birmingham.

“When our most vulnerable Alabamians are in need of care, it is the amazing health care professionals at our Community Health Centers who stand in the gap,” said Rep. Sewell. “I am thrilled that the Biden-Harris Administration is working to expand mental health and substance use treatments for the patients that these facilities serve. These awards represent a critical step forward in our fight against the mental health and opioid crisis.”

Health centers are community providers and a primary source of care for individuals across the country who are uninsured, underinsured or enrolled in Medicaid. They can respond to the need for behavioral health services that readily accessible.