A Behavioral Health Grant Opportunity from SCDHHS
Over the past few years, Governor McMaster, the SC General Assembly and SCDHHS have been working on addressing the “significant gaps” in behavioral health services that exist in our state. Key among these is an inadequate supply of behavioral health crisis stabilization units.
To address this need, SCDHHS has created a grant opportunity to increase crisis stabilization services in hospitals across the state. A total of $35 million in grant money will be awarded for one-time infrastructure investments in specialized hospital-based emergency departments and observational units dedicated to behavioral health. All grant awardees must use a “no wrong door” model that provides a care alternative to emergency or inpatient admission.
The grant application is now live. Hospitals have until March 3 to submit questions to SCDHHS regarding the grant program; the agency has committed to publishing answers to those questions by March 8. Questions should be submitted to grants@scdhhs.gov. Grant applications are due to SCDHHS by April 24.
Our SCHA team will be reviewing the grant opportunity and will be available to help answer any questions your team might have as well. We’re excited about the potential of this new investment in behavioral health to provide urgently needed psychiatric treatment, ease overcrowding in the general emergency rooms, and reduce hospital inpatient admissions.