When it’s added altogether, Granville Vance Public Health is getting $9 million in federal and state funds to be used to improve access to mental health resources and battle substance abuse disorders through a variety of programs for young people and families.

For GVPH Director Lisa Harrison, that’s a big deal.

“Our dream is that this is ‘difference-making’ money,” Harrison said on Thursday’s TownTalk.

Specifically, the health department has received $4 million – $1 million each year for the next four years – in federal money to provide behavioral health programs to the school districts in Vance and Granville counties to combat drug use and substance abuse. The $5 million award comes from the General Assembly that will create spaces within the Emergency Department at Maria Parham Health to safely provide care for patients in mental health crises and intensive outpatient services at Maria Parham’s Franklin campus in Louisburg.

“I could not be more excited about all of these opportunities to address these issues. It’s definitely an interesting and exciting time to be in this work.”

Part of the excitement comes from a special group of visitors that spent most of a day last week in Granville and Vance counties. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were the main attraction at Medical Arts Pharmacy Friday afternoon to discuss the importance of access to health care and more in rural America.

“It was such a wonderful opportunity” to host the two high-profile health professionals in Henderson and Oxford, Harrison said. “It was such an amazing visit and so much fun.”

Becerra and others stopped in at the Oxford health department for a roundtable discussion, during which Harrison said Becerra asked good questions of the local representatives and seemed engaged in the dialogue.

Then it was on to Medical Arts Pharmacy, where Becerra, Cohen and others offered remarks about health care equity and the importance of providing adequate health care in rural areas.

In health departments like GVPH, Harrison said there’s always more need than money to satisfy that need, at least from local and state funding sources. Under Harrison’s leadership, GVPH has been awarded federal grants totaling more than $6 million since 2015.

The networking and partnerships across agencies – local, state and federal – are key to providing the very best care in the two counties, she said.

As governmental agencies, hospitals, schools and others all work together for a common goal, Harrison said she believes it will make a difference in the overall health outcomes for youth and families in the community.

Hear the complete interview with Harrison at www.wizs.com

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