Schatz: More Than $27 Million Heading To Hawai‘i To Strengthen Access To Health Care, Reduce Health Disparities, Keep More People Healthy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today announced more than $27 million in funding to Hawai‘i from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support programs and research that expand access to health care and domestic violence programs, reduce racial and ethnic health disparities, and support the health care workforce. This funding includes over $4.3 million in congressionally-directed spending secured by Schatz, and millions of dollars more as a result of his work as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“Local agencies and organizations do important work providing community and behavioral health services, addressing health disparities, and conducting innovative research into cancer and other serious diseases. By supporting these programs, we’re helping to keep more people across Hawai‘i healthy and safe,” said Senator Schatz.

The more than $27 million in funding includes:

• $15.6 million to improve access to health care, strengthen services in rural and underserved communities, expand behavioral health services, and support domestic violence programs

Health Care

• • $4,636,147 for the West Hawai‘i Community Health Center to continue providing health care services to underserved communities
  • $3,000,000 for Hale Makua to support care and services for seniors
  • $150,000 for Waikiki Health to support HIV care, treatment, and support through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program

Behavioral Health Services

• • $4,000,000 for the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division to strengthen opioid treatment programs
  • $999,857 for the Hawai‘i Department of Health to support the planning, development, and implementation of the Maui County Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, the first clinic in the state providing comprehensive mental health and substance use services to receive this designation
  • $698,458 for the Hawai‘i Department of Health to develop the OHANA Center of Excellence on Empowering Behavioral Health, which will serve as the U.S. hub for enhancing behavioral health care for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities
  • $300,000 for the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Expansion program to expand telehealth access programs for pediatric mental care
  • $282,204 for the Hawai‘i Department of Health to support community mental health services
  • $250,000 for the YMCA of Honolulu to support its substance use recovery program
  • $100,000 for Maui Economic Opportunity to grow its MEO Youth Services program, which includes substance use, anti-bullying, and suicide prevention initiatives

Domestic Violence Programs

• • $1,000,000 for Pouhana ‘O Na Wahine to support the organization’s Native Hawaiian Tribal Resource Center on Domestic Violence
  • $500,000 for the Domestic Violence Action Center to promote programs supporting key issues in women’s health

• $9 million to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities
  • $4,552,815 for the University of Hawai‘i to support Ola HAWAI‘I, a specialized research center focused on addressing health disparities
  • $2,467,767 for the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center to advance research on ethnic differences in cancer
  • $1,521,750 for the Hawai‘i Clinical Research Network to promote diverse racial and ethnic representation in clinical research trials
  • $700,437 for the University of Hawai‘i to study health disparities in liver disease, which disproportionately affects Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders

• $2.3 million to strengthen Hawai‘i’s health care workforce
  • $1,279,949 for the University of Hawai‘i to expand the Community Health Worker and Health Support Worker Training Program
  • $999,966 for the University of Hawai‘i’s Rural Health Research Center to advance research related to rural health, the rural health workforce, and health equity

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