VA Senators announce $1.4 million in funding for mental health
Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner announced an additional $1.4 million in federal funding to expand access to mental health care in Virginia.
The funds were awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through a grant program to provide comprehensive, community based mental health services to adults and children with significant mental health conditions.
The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant program has provided over $25 million to the commonwealth during the 2023 Fiscal Year.
The Senators stated, “Every Virginian deserves access to high-quality, affordable mental health care. The last few years have underscored the importance of access to mental health services, and we’re glad this funding will help more Virginians reach the care they need.”
To view the press release from the Senators, click here.
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Luray Caverns Airport receives funding for terminal
U.S. Senators for Virginia Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced the allocation of $1.2 million to the Commonwealth’s airports including $476,000 to the Luray Caverns Airport.
The funds coming from the U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will be used to construct a 4,600 sq foot terminal and an airport parking lot.
$750,000 will also go to a study reevaluating Virginia’s air transportation needs for the first time since 2010.
Earlier this year, Senators Warner and Kaine announced $29 million in federal funding to three other Virginia airports.
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Virginia receives funding to replace lead pipes
Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $46.3 million in federal funds are coming to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.
The funds will be used to replace lead service pipes throughout the state to help protect public health.
Both senators pointed towards the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi as a driving force to improve Virginia’s water infrastructure.
The funding is through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which was negotiated by Senator Warren with support from Senator Kaine.
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Warner & Kaine Announce $2.6 Million in Federal Funding for Crisis Hotline Response
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $2,642,519 in federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the Virginia State Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). This funding will go towards improving call and text response rates at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
“In the last two years of the pandemic, we have seen an increased demand for mental health services,” the senators said. “We are pleased that this funding will allow the Commonwealth to provide more timely assistance to those who are in crisis and in need of help.”
Currently in Virginia, the DBHDS has an in-state answer rate of 83 percent. The goal of this funding is to increase answer rates at call centers to 90 percent by the end of the grant period. In addition, SAMSHA has a stated goal of answering 90 percent of calls within 15 seconds and 95 percent of calls within 20 seconds by the end of the grant period.
This funding comes ahead of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s July transition from the current 10-digit number to a three-digit, 988, dialing code. With the switch, SAMHSA is expecting an increase in calls.
In February of last year, Sens. Warner and Kaine announced funding for the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority to help expand access to and improve the quality of mental health and substance use disorder programs.
This funding was provided through the American Rescue Plan which was supported by both Sens. Warner and Kaine.
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