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HOME > ABOUT > PRESS > HEALTH CENTER GETS HUGE GRANT FROM FEDS
Article published - December 29, 2008
Credit: SONOMA NEWS
Health center gets huge grant from feds
By Sandi Hansen
The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center has received a huge Christmas present - the continuation of a 330 Grant amounting to $3.25 million over a five-year period. This works out to $650,916 a year.
"The first year, we have been awarded 50 percent of our grant award due to the fact that the Federal Health Center 330 program is currently operating under Continuing Resolution since the Congress has not finalized (fiscal year) 2009 appropriation of the program," said Community Health Center Chief Executive Officer Patricia Talbot. Talbot said the center will get a revised Notice of Grant Award when Congress has finalized the appropriations.
Section 330 of the Federal Public Health Service Act created the grant money for health centers that serve a population that is medically underserved in an area with a shortage of personal health services. In addition to the medical services that the clinic provides, this year for its efforts, the Community Health Center was one of several clinics honored in September with a Hero Award from the Sonoma County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
"The awards are for organizations with an extraordinary contribution in the field of mental health," said Rosemary Milbrath, executive director of NAMI. "The health center was selected because it aids a rural and underserved area," she added.
The NAMI award included a $500 donation but, according to Milbrath, the organization does not have the means to financially reward the exemplary organizations, but can publicly give recognition for a facility's hard work.
The health center has created a substance-abuse program that is equipped to take walk-ins, giving patients greater flexibility in their treatment. With a grant, the center this year was able to take on two psychologists and a licensed clinical social worker which made it possible to treat a larger number of mental-health patients.
As for the 330 Grant, Talbot said "This was a great present today to receive for Christmas."
The Sonoma Valley Community Health Center is located at 430 W. Napa St. and can be reached at 939-6070.
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