Thursday, April 17, 2025
4/17/2025
Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) seeks a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to unlock $250,000 in awarded Community Project Funding / Congressional Directed Spending (CPF/CDS). The funds will contribute to a $565,000 renovation of the Foster House and create an intensive outpatient program (IOP) serving the mental health needs of the region’s children. One is six Vermont children are struggling with mental health. A gap exists in the mental health care continuum between intermittent counselling and intensive inpatient care. The proposed IOP, in partnership with United Counseling Service (UCS), is an evidence-based and cost effective approach to address the complex mental health challenges faced by children. Many youth do not need the rigor of inpatient or residential care that separates them from their community. On the other end of the spectrum, counselling once a week is insufficient for some children to build the mental health skills they require to navigate the complexity of youth life in this complex world. Thereby, some children would benefit from a safe site they can attend for several hours each day for weeks or perhaps a few months. Yet, no IOP currently exists in the region. At the proposed IOP, children will receive daily collaborative guidance together with their family and school. The IOP will help children develop reframing and resiliency skills. By creating a supportive psychosocial ecosystem around each child (ages 5-18) the IOP will facilitate mental health healing and continued positive growth. The IOP for youth in Bennington will yield long term benefits. Children with unmet mental health challenges are at risk of escalating to crisis and needing care at SVMC’s emergency department where they languish for days while they wait for placement at an inpatient facility. Also, children experiencing mental health challenges can become underproductive adults hampered by mental health conditions if their needs are not effectively addressed during youth. Adults with mental health comorbidities have 5 times higher medical care spending and are disproportionately at risk of drug use and crime. Creating the IOP in Bennington for youth is a solid investment in the future that reduces unnecessary strain on other government programs in Vermont. The $250,000 in congressional support is needed to renovate the 3,750 square foot facility. The total project cost is $565,000 and include installation of a ligature free bathroom with shower, teaching kitchen, sensory modulation space, separate discrete entrance for children in crisis, and exterior ramp to allow access to green spaces for individuals with mobility challenges. The budget includes funds for furniture, fixtures, and equipment. However, federal funds will not be used to purchase items federally designated as equipment. The federal funds will be used for the building renovation only. The budget does not contain items excluded from HRSA eligibility such as salaries or ongoing operating expenses. The new IOP will serve patients from throughout Bennington County, VT (population 5,350 age 5-18). The services provided will based in cognitive behavioral therapy and dielectric behavior therapy (CBT/DBT) and leverage the unique nature-based setting of the Foster House. The project is poised to launch with architectural schematic designs completed, cost estimates in-hand, and permitting applications staged. The actual renovation will occur during 6 months and the project is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024. The HRSA award is essential to renovate the Foster House to create the IOP service. The communities of southern Vermont will benefit from this project through more resilient children, more stable families, and reduced need for acute mental health and medical services.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).