REP. THOMPSON ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $400,000 FOR SANTA ROSA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $406, 250.00 Department of Health and Human Services grant for Santa Rosa Community Health Centers (SRCHC). The grant will be used to expand patient access to substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, with an emphasis on addressing opioid abuse in underserved populations.
“Santa Rosa Community Health Centers provides quality, affordable care for those in need in our community," said Thompson. "With this grant, they will be able to better address substance abuse and combat the growing epidemic of opioid abuse. I am proud to support this important work and I will continue to do everything I can to make sure Santa Rosa Community Health Centers have the resources they need to meet the needs of our community.”
“This Substance Abuse Expansion funding from HRSA comes at a critical time for our community as addiction is an increasingly severe problem. Integrating medication-assisted treatment and other recovery services into the health center setting will provide patients with the education and support they need to curb opioid and other drug abuse and link them to treatment options,” said Naomi Fuchs, Chief Executive Officer at Santa Rosa Community Health Centers.
Recent reports from the California Department of Public Health indicate that in Sonoma County, drugs led to over 900 emergency room visits, over 200 hospitalizations and 23 deaths. Opioids were responsible for almost 200 visits to the emergency room and over 80 hospitalizations.
Last week, Rep. Thompson hosted an educational forum on substance abuse and the dangers of self-medication. The forum brought together a panel of leaders in the effort to better understand and more effectively treat substance abuse at the federal, state and local level as well as by community organizations. Panelists provided an overview of the current trends and research of substance abuse and identified resources where community members and their families can go for help.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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