More than 20 new grants will help improve mental health access and services for patients and communities in the Providence footprint — and beyond
RENTON, Wash. June 29, 2023 —Providence’s Well Being Trust has awarded its first round of behavioral health innovation and transformation grants totaling nearly $5 million. The funds will go toward increasing access and improving the mental health and well-being of patients.
The projects funded by these grants are aligned with Providence’s Well Being Trust strategic priorities, which include expanding timely access, improving quality care and improving mental health and resilience in communities nationwide – especially for the poor and vulnerable and those most marginalized in society.
“We’re focusing our efforts and resources on improving the mental health and well-being of communities within the Providence footprint of Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington, and these initiatives will help us test and spread ideas that can transform the health care system as a whole."
More than one in five adults currently live with a mental illness, according to the CDC, and nearly 50 percent of youth have experienced a mental health condition at one point in their lives. The new grant awards seek to address a range of mental health concerns, including decreasing mental health stigma among youth, reducing maternal mortality and rates of infants born with substance use-related conditions, increasing access to mental health services for gender diverse communities and more.
“Mental health is an urgent priority for Providence and every community we serve. Changing the course of this crisis requires identifying and advancing innovative and actionable solutions,” said Rod Hochman, M.D., Providence President & CEO.
“That is why Providence’s Well Being Trust is proud to award nearly $5 million toward programs that will increase access to care and offer much-needed hope and healing to people and families living with mental illness and substance use disorders,” Dr. Hochman added.
Providence’s Well Being Trust is partnering with school districts, health centers and community organizations to carry out these initiatives at a local level.
“When we work with our communities to address mental health, it helps us drive measurable improvement in the lives of the people we are privileged to serve,” Waghray added.
Several of the initiatives funded are listed below.
Improving Patient Care and Expanding Access
- Supporting the launch of a new crisis receiving center in Missoula, Montana, which will provide a safe space and trauma-informed care for people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
- Supporting the opening of Covenant Children’s outpatient behavioral health unit in Lubbock, Texas. This will be the region’s first and only children’s outpatient behavioral health unit.
- Reducing substance use disorder (SUD)-related maternal mortality and rates of infants born with SUD-related illnesses.
- Expanding peer support in behavioral health and substance use treatment programs.
- Increasing depression and suicide-risk screenings.
- Increasing access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders.
- Increasing access to mental wellness resources and peer support for transgender and gender diverse populations.
- Increasing access to behavioral health services in primary care clinics.
- Increasing access to integrated behavioral health and primary care for unhoused persons.
Supporting our Youth
- Increasing access to school-based mental health services including tele-behavioral health services.
- Addressing mental health promotion and stigma reduction in the youth population by partnering with school districts and community organizations.
- Enhancing programs that support emotional regulation for pediatric patients.
- Bringing Work2BeWell school-based mental health resources and counseling/behavioral health resources to high-need high schools.
Learn more and view the full list of grants at wellbeingtrust.org/innovationgrants2023.
About Well Being Trust
Established in 2016 with an endowment from Providence St. Joseph Health, Providence’s Well Being Trust is a national foundation dedicated to advancing the mental, social, and spiritual health of all. Learn more: www.wellbeingtrust.org. Twitter: @WellBeingTrust
Media Contact:
Amy Shields, Director of Communications, Providence’s Well Being Trust
amy.shields@providence.org
