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ALBANY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko today announced the awarding of $2,500,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to Whitney Young Health Center in Albany. This funding will allow Whitney Young to expand the services it offers to underserved minority populations who have substance use or mental health disorders and are living with, or at risk for, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, or other STIs. This award will be distributed in five annual allotments of $500,000, with the first installment being delivered later this month. Whitney Young anticipates that the project funded through this award will serve nearly 1,500 individuals in the Capital Region.

“I’m thrilled to announce this major federal investment that will provide significantly enhanced services for underserved communities in our Capital Region,” Congressman Tonko said. “Community health centers like Whitney Young are vital tools in our effort to provide quality, affordable health care to all those who need it. With this grant, Whitney Young will be able to greatly expand its services for at-risk individuals in our region, including through the use of medication-assisted treatments, or MAT. Together, we are providing the compassionate, holistic response our substance use crisis demands. I’m proud to celebrate today’s award, and I’ll continue to work with community partners like Whitney Young to help address the pressing healthcare challenges our communities face.”

The award announced today will support a five-year project at Whitney Young Health that will adopt a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approach to address the complex needs of underserved populations of color in our Capital Region who have substance use disorders, mental health issues, or other co-occurring disorders (COD), and are living with or at risk for sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C (HCV). The project will provide:

·         Screening, assessment, outpatient services, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for individuals living with or at risk for HIV

·         On-site HIV and Hepatitis testing services, as well as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis services

·         Expanded case management and peer support services to facilitate referrals to follow-up care for those with preliminary positive HIV test results

·         Expanded outreach services and connections with local HIV care providers.

Congressman Tonko has long been a national leader in the fight to expand access to lifesaving treatments for individuals living with substance use disorders, including medication-assisted treatments. In December, Tonko pushed successfully to pass his Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act into law, legislation that eliminated outdated, bureaucratic barriers that prevented practitioners from prescribing proven treatments like buprenorphine to their patients. Earlier last year, Tonko led the way on securing reauthorization of the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant, ensuring sustained investment in programs that support states, communities, and families battling the disease of addiction.

Tonko has also been a longtime supporter of efforts to deliver federal investments that help Whitney Young fulfill its mission to provide health care services and community resources in our Capital Region. Earlier this year, Tonko successfully requested a $500,000 grant from HHS to help Whitney Young establish a community-based dental residency program that will ensure access to quality dental care for underserved populations. And in 2021, Tonko helped secure $3.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan that enabled Whitney Young to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to thousands of Capital Region residents.