Charles Drew University received $2.5 million over five years to support the integration of mental care training into primary care training for physicians

On Friday, January 20th, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson visited the Charles Drew University (CDU) College of Medicine to announce a $2.5 million grant to support the integration of mental health care into primary care training. Thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, HRSA has awarded nearly $60 million in grants across the country to integrate mental health care into residency training to help primary care physicians meet families mental health needs.

"I was pleased to visit Charles Drew University College of Medicine on Friday to see and hear firsthand how their staff and medical residents are poised to use HRSA's Bipartisan Safer Community Act funding to make a real difference in mental health care for kids and build a healthier community in East LA," said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. "HRSA is proud to support Charles Drew's work to train family physicians in the places where children and adolescents live and gather. We are committed to helping primary care physicians get the training and support they need to help meet children and adolescents' mental health needs. We know that health and well-being are not just what happens inside the clinic's walls its also about what happens in the community, and Charles Drew is training the next generation of health care professionals to understand and meet these needs."

At CDU, this newly awarded funding will support integrated behavioral health training and patient care in three of their health education programs: the Family Medicine Residency, Psychiatry Residency, and the Physician Assistant program.

"It was a pleasure hosting representatives from HRSA on our campus for a timely discussion highlighting the importance of mental health resources in underserved communities," said Dr. Lisa Barkley, Chair, Department of Family Medicine & Associate Dean Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for CDU. "Everyone at the University looks forward to continuing our critical work with our partners at HRSA towards achieving equity related to youth mental and behavioral health, and training primary care physicians to address these needs."

Addressing the mental health crisis is a top priority included in President Biden's Unity Agenda. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed into law by President Biden in June, provided the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with vital resources to help children and families across the country. HRSA, an agency of HHS, awarded nearly $60 million for innovative training programs that integrate behavioral health care into primary care, particularly in underserved settings, as part of that new law.

Photos from Friday's event can be found below: