LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Human Services has announced $15 million in grants will go to supporting people with substance use disorders, mental illness, and intellectual disabilities.
In a release sent on Aug. 23, Sanders expressed that Arkansans need help.
“[Vulnerable Arkansans] deserve to receive that help in modern, well-functioning facilities,” Sanders said. "As my administration supports our most at-risk citizens, these grants will build a continuity of care that helps Arkansans through every step of their lives."
The release says that the grants will fund improvements to infrastructure for services that provide help to vulnerable Arkansans.
Below are the grants and where they were distributed.
The Community Reintegration for Children grant will fund new buildings to function as a family-home environment for children. Recipients of this grant are:
- Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center — Fort Smith — Receiving $4 million
- United Methodist Children's Home — Little Rock — Receiving $1 million
The Adult Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Facilities grant will fund improvements to existing facilities that offer 30- to 60-day treatment programs for adults dealing with substance abuse. Recipients of this grant are:
- Harbor House — Fort Smith — Receiving $1,842,004
- ARVAC Lake Point Recovery and Wellness — Russellville — Receiving $2,157,996
The Supported Housing Units for Young Adults grant will fund the construction of an apartment complex that will house youth dealing with behavioral health who have aged out of group homes. The recipient of this grant is:
- Rainbow of Challenges — Hope — Receiving $3 million
The Therapeutic Communities for Adults with IDD grant will fund the creation of a 16-bed therapeutic community that will provide support for adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The recipient of this grant is:
- ARISA Health — Jonesboro — Receiving $3 million
“The funding awards announced today will create an array of additional services that support an improved continuum of care for both young people and adults who are struggling with substance use disorders, mental illness, or intellectual disabilities,” DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam said. “We are excited to see these investments turn into services that fill gaps in coverage and ultimately make a positive difference in the lives of Arkansans who need this support.”
Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center (The Guidance Center) says the grant will go towards their Fostering Change Program.
Abby Rundell, the program director, is helping serve youth in foster care that are "needing treatment that they're otherwise not getting other places."
The co-ed program helps 16 foster kids with 16 beds available in their current space.
"We are the only and have been the only community reintegration program in the state of Arkansas since 2018," Rundell said.
Rundell said the grant will go towards a new home which will provide 32 more children a bed and much-needed resources.
"We are so thrilled to find out that we were awarded this grant. And we are so thankful to the governor for investing in mental health in our community, as well as the children in our community," Rundell said. "With this, we are going to be able to really pour into mental health services and treatment for use not only in the river valley, but across the state of Arkansas, and give them services that maybe they otherwise weren't getting or didn't have timely access to due to waiting list and not having enough programming."
Rundell said they'd like to help those they weren't able to serve in a timely manner. She explained that the program had a waitlist because of the need across the state.
Rundell adds that they have identified a place for their expansion but they're still working out closing on the property. She does say though that the new property will be in Fort Smith, keeping the program in the same area.
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