The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have allocated nearly $35 million in grants to expand essential behavioral health services and HIV prevention and care for historically underserved populations. This initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to health equity.
President Biden’s national priorities include addressing the mental health crisis and combating the opioid epidemic, and these grants support those efforts by enhancing treatment, recovery support, and harm reduction programs. Additionally, they align with the National Drug Control Strategy and the National HIV AIDS Strategy.
The awards encompass three key areas:
- $21.9 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative: This program focuses on engaging racial and ethnic minority individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring mental health conditions who are at risk for or living with HIV. It adopts a syndemic approach, addressing SUD, HIV, and viral hepatitis simultaneously.
- $10.5 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative: This program provides substance use and HIV prevention services to racial and ethnic minority populations at high risk for SUDs and HIV infection. It places emphasis on LGBTQI+ individuals without stable housing and those in communities with enormous rates of HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases.
- $1.9 million for the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund: This pilot project offers integrated behavioral health and HIV care to racially and ethnically underserved individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. It focuses on delivering portable clinical care outside traditional settings.
These grants exemplify the administration’s dedication to improving the overall health and wellness of marginalized individuals and communities across the United States.
