Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

PRESS RELEASE: GOV. MALLOY: CONNECTICUT RECEIVES $10M FEDERAL GRANT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that the State of Connecticut is receiving a $10 million federal grant that will be used to increase access to integrated care for individuals with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.  Funding will also be used to address the opioid crisis in the state by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment.  The grant has been awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).

“Our state has always been committed to leveraging any federal resources that can be used to enhance services we provide,” Governor Malloy said.  “This funding will be used to improve health outcomes of those grappling with substance use addictions, including opioids, and mental illness.”

“This funding provides additional support for our state’s current efforts to ensure the people we serve have the best health outcomes possible,” DMHAS Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon said.  “With these dollars, we will be able to build on the successes we have seen in the DMHAS behavioral health home initiative.  This will expand the integration of substance use or mental health disorders treatment with physical health care in three urban hubs.  Medical treatment for the whole person increases an individual’s chances of a full, productive life in the community of their choice.”

The grant will be used to serve over 2,000 individuals.  It will pair physical health providers with mental health and substance use providers in the cities of Bridgeport, Hartford and Waterbury, which have been identified as having high rates of individuals who have high-Medicaid spend, a behavioral health diagnosis, and are currently not being served by an integrated model.  The behavioral health providers that will utilize the funding include the Community Health Resources, Recovery Network of Programs, and Wellmore.  They will partner with Charter Oak Health Center, Optimus, and Staywell for physical health services.

###
For Immediate Release: August 13, 2018
Contact: David Bednarz
Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy
David.Bednarz@ct.gov
860-524-7315 (office)
860-770-9792 (cell)

Contact: Diana Lejardi

Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Diana.Lejardi@ct.gov
860-418-6967 (office)
860-558-0024 (cell)