NEW Health Secures $600,000 Grant to Expand Behavioral Health Services in Northeast Washington

NEW Health Will Add Providers To Increase Access to Behavioral Health Care

NEW Health has been awarded a $600,000 grant to expand primary behavioral health services from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This expansion will further NEW Health’s commitment to provide exceptional, all-encompassing healthcare. This significant funding will allow NEW Health to address critical mental health and substance use treatment needs across the region by delivering the best level of healthcare, close to home.

The grant will enable NEW Health to hire additional behavioral health providers, increasing the organization’s capacity to treat more patients. NEW Health’s current behavioral health services are offered through the collaborative care model in partnership with the University of Washington. This innovative, team-based model integrates mental and physical health care to deliver personalized, patient-centered treatment. Although successful, the existing program is limited.

To tackle these workforce shortages, NEW Health is launching the Bridging the Distance project. Using HRSA funds, the organization will be able to add two behavioral health clinicians to their team.

The expansion comes in response to a well-documented Community Health needs assessment project and identifies the need for increased mental health and substance use services in NEW Health’s rural service area. Rates of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and opioid-related deaths are significantly higher in the region than the state average. In Ferry and Pend Oreille counties, overdose deaths far exceed state levels, and a recent health needs assessment revealed that over 29,000 people are going without much needed mental health services. These challenges are exacerbated by social isolation, stigma surrounding mental health, and a severe shortage of mental health providers.

“Our rural communities face unique challenges, with mental health and substance use disorders often going untreated until they reach a crisis point,” said NEW Health CEO Desiree Sweeney. “This grant is a game-changer for us, allowing NEW Health to build a much-needed workforce pipeline and expand our capacity to meet the behavioral health needs of our patients.”

NEW Health has also partnered with Whitworth University to create an internship program for Marriage and Family Therapy students. This initiative will expose students to rural healthcare while offering NEW Health a direct recruitment path for new behavioral health providers.

 “By developing partnerships with academic institutions like Whitworth, we are laying the foundation for long-term success in attracting and retaining clinicians who are passionate about serving rural communities,” Sweeney said.

NEW Health remains committed to its mission of promoting health and wellness by providing integrated, open-access care to all. Last year, the clinic system served more than 15,000 unique patients across Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties. The expansion of behavioral health services is part of a broader effort to close critical healthcare gaps in these rural areas.

NEW Health’s collaboration with community organizations, such as Rural Resources, will also play a key role in ensuring patients receive comprehensive care.

This expansion in services is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $600,000 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are this press release do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

###The mission of NEW Health is to promote health and wellness within our communities by providing integrated, open-access healthcare for all. NEW Health operates primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services for residents of Ferry, Stevens, and Pend Oreille counties. NEW Health serves over 16,000 patients annually and employs more than 180 staff. NEW Health is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Bringing healthcare into communities and communities into healthcare since 1978.