Sunday, May 11, 2025
5/11/2025
Emergency Grant to Address Mental and Substance Use Disorders During COVID-19 - NARA (Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest), an Urban Indian Organization and Federally Qualified Health Care Center (FQHC), located in Portland, Oregon will adapt its current strategies to provide telehealth services according to the guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control in response to the COVID-19 virus. NARA serves primarily American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the area, who have shown higher rates of substance abuse, and mental health conditions, homelessness, disabling conditions, and domestic violence when compared to other ethnicities (Lewis, Myhra, 2018). The SAMHSA Emergency COVID-19 funding will reduce the impact of disparities that limit access to substance use and mental health services, increase screening, assessment, crisis stabilization, and referral processes with the overall goal of continuing care during pandemic, as well as improving evidence based patient outcomes (e.g., PHQ-9, etc.) for at least over 400 low income, uninsured, or homeless individuals and/or families over the period of 16 months; the primary focus is on individuals with substance use disorders, mental illness of a reduced severity, as well as health care workers who seek treatment for mood symptoms related to COVID-19. This project will allow NARA, with the support of community partners (Cascadia’s Project Respond, JOIN, and Unity Psychiatric Hospital), to continue to provide crisis intervention services, mental and substance use disorder treatment for both children and adults, as well as recovery supports for those individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the use of telehealth, this project brings much needed access to addiction services, as well as behavioral health services during the duration of the pandemic and through recovery. Through system adaptation that aligns with the recommendations put in place by the CDC, NARA commits to goals focused on reducing barriers to care, using evidence based practices, promoting behaviors and activities that promote recovery as well, as overall well-being through the use of telehealth with the gradual integration to in person services. Key interventions and strategies are: 1. Create a leadership committee that is committed to reducing disparities caused by limited access to mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic at NARA; 2. Develop a method to screen individuals for mental health symptoms and need for treatment through telehealth. 3. Develop a strategy to identify need for patient supports during this time of limited access; 4. Assess and monitor mental health symptoms during this time of pandemic; 5. Develop a systematic monitoring strategy for streamlining individuals identified as high risk or with severe mood symptoms into treatment rapidly; 6. Provide responsive patient, family, and community support to those at risk through outreach as well as referral to supportive resources.
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).