LEWISTON — State representatives announced Friday that $2 million in mental health funding will be provided to the state in response to the October mass shooting in Lewiston.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services will receive $2.05 million through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Emergency Response Grant Program, according to a news release.
Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, and Reps. Cherry Pingree and Jared Golden made the announcement Friday afternoon.
The program is designed to meet the emergency substance use and mental health needs of communities affected by immediate emergencies or disasters, according to the announcement.
The funding will go toward community mental health needs in the Greater Lewiston area in the wake of the mass shooting in October that claimed 18 lives and injured 13 others.
“In the wake of the horrific mass shooting in Lewiston last year, this emergency funding from SAMHSA will help meet the mental health needs of those affected by this tragedy,” said the Maine delegation. stated in the statement. “Maine people are resilient. There is nothing we can do to replace the lives lost, but we will ensure that Lewiston and the surrounding area have the resources and support they need to heal and recover. , we continue to work with our state and federal partners.”
“This federal grant will accelerate Maine’s response to the critical behavioral health needs of those directly and indirectly affected by the Lewiston tragedy,” Gov. Janet Mills said in a separate release. Probably.” “We thank President Biden and the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued unwavering support for Lewiston and Maine as we continue on the path to healing.”
According to DHHS, the grant “supplements other state and federal funding for the response, strengthens behavioral health workers on the ground, helps individuals and families affected by the tragedy recover, and supports communities in Lewiston and the surrounding area.” It will help strengthen community resilience.” community. ”
“Following the tragedy in Lewiston, we are committed to supporting Maine residents, communities, first responders, and professionals with their ongoing behavioral health needs in the wake of the largest mass shooting in Maine history.” We immediately began developing a plan based on input from others,” said DHHS Secretary Jeanne Lambrew.
Funding priorities were determined by input from partners following a series of listening sessions that DHHS held with behavioral health providers, health system leaders, members of the Deaf and New Minority communities, school staff, and families. Based on. -based providers, ethnic and community-based organizations, and other affected parties. According to the statement, this funding will:
• Expand community-based behavioral health workforce. The funding will support behavioral health professionals who can engage in Mobile Crisis Assistance, Peer Harm Reduction, and Project Support You, an initiative that supports first responders in de-escalating emergency calls and assists first responders with reporting. Used to increase the number of houses. After an incident.
• Launch a trauma-informed learning community: This learning community will provide training and skills to the workforce most directly involved with those affected by the Lewiston shootings, including behavioral health and medical workers, educators, community workers, and community officials. This improves our ability to better respond to and meet the needs of the people we serve. The learning community also aims to provide training for frontline workers to recognize and respond to their own trauma, and to promote support and resilience to trauma in the workforce. We support “care”.
• Increase awareness of behavioral health resources valuable for long-term resilience.: Maine DHHS will use funding to leverage the StrengthenME platform to add to existing behavioral health resources through customized, targeted messaging that helps normalize and reduce stigma for people seeking mental health help. We help raise awareness of
• Support communications for priority audiences. This grant will support the development of a website that integrates accessible, community-developed information for members of the deaf community, which was particularly hard hit by the Lewiston incident. Funding will also support an ethnic and community-based organization focused on serving Lewiston’s new minority communities by providing culturally appropriate support for the whole family to many people experiencing re-traumatization. Support your organization.
“The events of October 25, 2023 have dramatically impacted the health of our community, highlighting and exacerbating the need for more mental and behavioral health services,” the Lewiston community said.・Concept CEO Jim Martin said: , which manages the Maine Resiliency Center. “SERG grants will improve access to these vital supports and help fill gaps in the care system that are sorely needed. It complements all the recovery efforts taking place across the community, including the work of the Resiliency Center.”
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