Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center announced today it has received a grant totaling more than $160,000 from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to further expand and develop our Integrated Behavioral Health and substance abuse treatment services.

HRSA awarded $200 million to more than 1200 health centers across the nation to increase access to high quality, integrated behavioral health services, like what can be found at RCCHC. This includes the prevention or treatment of mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder.

"Health centers and behavioral health providers are on the front lines of the fight against the opioid crisis and substance abuse, especially in rural communities," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.

RCCHC is proud to be part of the fight, and is excited for the opportunity to expand the work we are currently doing to better serve our patients and community. We understand that addressing mental health needs may be the key for many with chronic diseases to living healthier lives overall. "If you can treat the anxiety or depression, you're going to have stabilization or improvement of the chronic disease," said RCCHC CEO, Kim Schwartz.   Schwartz was recently quoted in an international article regarding mental health treatment in the United States called “Treating a Chronic Disease, Beginning with Mental Health”.   She added, "Patients who are successfully treated for a mental illness begin to feel better. Then they take better care because they feel better about feeling better. It's a Mobius strip."

Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center offers a wide variety of mental health services at its clinics in Ahoskie, Colerain, Creswell, and Murfressboro and Woodland (opening Fall 2019).  From common mental health diagnoses such as Anxiety, Depression, ADD/ADHD, Bipolar, and PTSD to Substance Abuse, Opioid Addiction Treatment, and NARCAN/Naloxone training.  

"It is essential to treat the whole person at RCCHC, and to help to take away the stigma attached to mental health," says Schwartz, "because it is ALL health - mental, physical, spiritual and social."