Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration News Release August 29, 2011 SAMHSA awards up to $1.5 million for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Center for Excellence in Behavioral Health The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding up to $1.5 million, over three years, to Morehouse School of Medicine to enhance the effort to network the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the United States to promote behavioral health, expand campus service capacity and facilitate workforce development. This cooperative agreement is designed to increase racial/ethnic diversity in the health professions to reduce health disparities among traditionally underserved communities. The effort supports SAMHSA's strategic initiative on the prevention of substance abuse and mental illness. "It is essential that the behavioral health care needs of all elements of our society are addressed, especially those populations who have long had very limited access to adequate services," said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. "This new grant will hopefully be a stepping stone for the development of a more diverse and innovative behavioral health care workforce that can more effectively meet the needs of all Americans." Continued support for this cooperative agreement is subject to the availability of funds and the performance of the grantee. For additional information about these grants and other SAMHSA programs, please visit http://www.samhsa.gov. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.