Department of Mental Health Receives $7 Million Substance Abuse Treatment Grant, Gov. Nixon Announces

Press Release

Gov. Jay Nixon today announced that the Missouri Department of Mental Health has received a $7 million federal grant to provide recovery support services to more than 4,000 adults with substance use disorders in the Southeast, Southwest, and Kansas City areas.

"This federal grant will strengthen Missouri's safety net and improve public safety by connecting those in-need with the proper care," Gov. Nixon said "I appreciate the Department of Mental Health for partnering with community service groups, including faith-based organizations, to reach out to individuals and families struggling with substance use disorders and providing them the tools needed for long-term recovery."

The Access to Recovery grant was awarded to Missouri's Department of Mental Health's Division of Behavioral Health by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the amount of $7 million over three years. The target population of these services includes active military members and Veterans, individuals involved in the criminal justice or child welfare systems, people who are homeless, and pregnant or parenting women.

"Over the last nine years, the Access to Recovery movement of faith-based providers, partnering with social and community supports, has helped thousands of Missourians find the critical supports they need to obtain and sustain recovery from substance use disorders," said Ladell M. Flowers, CEO of Dismas House of Kansas City. "The announcement of the Access to Recovery grant award is an answer to prayer for those who depend on these vital services, and we look forward to the opportunity to help make the quality of life better for more individuals and families throughout the state."

The Governor made the announcement at the Department of Mental Health's spring training at Lake of the Ozarks, where he discussed efforts by his administration to strengthen Missouri's mental health care system.

In Fiscal Year 2014, the Governor proposed and implemented a strategic initiative to help communities identify and care for Missourians with severe mental illness.

The initiative included an expansion of Crisis Intervention and Mental Health First-Aid training and resources for emergency room intervention teams to work with patients needing coordinated care. The initiative also included placing 31 mental health liaisons at the state's Community Mental Health Centers.

To date, there have been more than 19,000 contacts between Community Mental Health Liaisons, law enforcement and the courts, with 9,800 referrals to mental health services.

The Governor has continued to include funding for these efforts in his subsequent budget proposals. The Missouri General Assembly has followed the Governor's recommendations each year, with funding continuing into Fiscal Year 2016, which begins July 1.

"I appreciate the legislature coming together to pass a bipartisan budget that recognizes the important role our mental health providers play in their communities," Gov. Nixon said. "While these efforts are not a cure-all, they are an important step toward helping more Missourians get the care they need."

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