Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $2,875,000 in federal funding for Serving Children and Adults in Need (SCAN) Inc., awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through their Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant program. This award consists of two separate grants including $375,000 for the Webb County Mental Health Awareness Training Project, that provides behavioral and health treatment, primary care and recovery support services for homeless adults with mental illness. A separate grant of $2,500,000 will be awarded to SCAN’s Hogar Para Todos (HOGAR) Project, that provides training for first responders, education law enforcement and health professionals on how to appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders. Both programs seek to assist the most vulnerable members of the community by providing mental health services and housing for those most in need.  

Webb County Mental Health Awareness Training Project

Congressman Cuellar announced $375,000 of SAMHSA funding will go towards SCAN’s Mental Health Awareness Training Project. This grant will allow SCAN, Inc. to provide training to the local population, giving them the skills necessary to help those who are experiencing a mental health crisis in the community. Veterans, armed services members and their families, emergency first responders, educators and other school personnel, law enforcement, and health professionals will be trained to identify persons with mental disorders and educated on various resources available in the community for individuals struggling with mental health disorders. Through this program, SCAN, Inc. will train 750 individuals annually, resulting in 2,250 trained professionals over the course of the project’s 3-year span.

Hogar Para Todos (HOGAR) Project

The Congressman additionally announced that SCAN’s Hogar Para Todos (HOGAR) Project will receive $2,500,000 in federal funding. This grant will allow SCAN, Inc. to provide health, housing, and other services to meet the needs of adults with serious mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders who are experiencing homelessness. Specifically, the project will provide:

·         Community outreach and screening;

·         Counseling and support groups;

·         Case management;

·         Peer recovery services;

·         Mental health counseling and psychiatric care;

·         Substance abuse and trauma treatment;

·         Sustainable housing; and

·         Assistance with primary care treatment.

The project will benefit 300 homeless members of Webb County, over the course of a 5-year period. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure this funding through the fiscal year 2018 appropriations bill.  

“SCAN, Inc. continues its tremendous service to our community by providing services and treatment to those who need it most,” Congressman Cuellar said. “I believe in its mission of making sure that every person is presented with the opportunity to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Today’s funding reflects this important goal: it provides millions for services to help those currently battling mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders, including funding for health training and education. It will also help address homelessness in the community, by providing health, housing, and other care to those struggling with mental health disorders.”

“SCAN, Inc. is very excited about being awarded two SAMHSA grants to expand and enhance services in our community,” said Isela Dabdoub, SCAN, Inc. CEO. “One grant will be implemented to provide behavioral health treatment, primary care and recovery support services, for homeless adults with a serious mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders. The second grant will provide training for first responders, educators, law enforcement and health professionals on how to appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders.”

Congressman Cuellar (TX-28) presents SCAN Inc. with HHS SAMHSA Grants on Thursday in Laredo. Pictured from left are Congressman Henry Cuellar, SCAN Mental Health Awareness Program Trainer Sandra Contreras, SCAN Vice President Dr. Christopher Craddock, SCAN Executive Vice President Luis Flores, SCAN CEO Isela Dabdoub, and SCAN Program Director Enrique Manrique.