Clinicas gets $175K to fight crisis
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration announced Thursday it awarded more than $25 million to state health centers including Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo.
Clinicas, with its headquarters in Brawley but with branch offices through the Imperial County, was awarded $175,700 — tied with several centers in the state for the second highest amount awarded ( the highest amount only $1 more).
Officials at the Clinicas were not available for comment Thursday.
A press release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated the funds are to be used to increase access to substance abuse and mental health services.
Those services focus on the treatment, prevention and awareness of opioid abuse in the primary case setting by increasing personnel, leveraging health information technology and providing training.
“No corner of our country, from rural areas to urban centers, has escaped the scourge of the opioid crisis,” said HHS Secretary Tom Price. “The Trump Administration is taking strong, decisive action to respond to the crisis caused by the opioid epidemic.
These grants from HRSA go directly to local organizations, which are best situated to address substance abuse and mental health issues in their own communities.”
A total of 150 health centers in the state received a combined $25,660,864 while more than $ 200 million was awarded to 1,178 centers nationwide.
In a report published by cal health report. org, about 1,190 newborns were diagnosed with a drug withdrawal syndrome in 2016, an increase of 50 percent from the prior decade.
Doctors across the state say that in addition to treating more babies who are born with a drug dependency, there’s eyeing an increase in children and teens who are addicted to opiates, a highly addictive drug.