FHCHC Grows Substance Use Disorder Program with National Grant

Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) was awarded funding yesterday from The Health Resources and Services Administration, to expand services to those with substance use disorders. In an announcement from HRSA, FHCHC received funding as part of a $352 million award to increase access to services for substance use disorder and mental health, through the Expanding Access to Quality Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services program (SUD-MH). FHCHC provides integrated health care in the Greater New Haven Area, including the East Haven and Branford, CT communities.

With continued expansion of Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services, FHCHC is addressing community needs and providing services to all patients, regardless of ability to pay. FHCHC's CEO, Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, said "This funding will help us expand services to all those in need. Our substance use disorder program uses an integrated framework for patient care, drawing from a full complement of care resources. As we expand this program, we continue to evaluate it through a health equity lens, to ensure equitable health care for all. In recognition of this ongoing commitment to our patients and our community, just last month FHCHC was awarded recognition from HRSA for both quality care and health equity."

FHCHC’s patient-centered, health equity focus is evident not only in patient primary and specialty care, but has lead to the innovation of several proactive care specialty clinics as well. These specialty clinics target medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, pediatric developmental and behavioral concerns, as well as recent emergency department discharges. Patients are proactively identified and referred to the related program for full assessment, individual treatment plan and care coordination to work with environment, health and other social factors impacting the patient’s health. “The benefit of our integrated approach here at Fair Haven,” added Dr. Lagarde, “is that we can respond to health issues nimbly, in a collaborative fashion, as we see them on the horizon. It’s how we keep our community healthy.”

Fair Haven Community Health Care is a federally qualified community health center (“FQHC”) established in 1971 in New Haven, CT by local activists. A nationally recognized leader in addressing health disparities in an urban community, FHCHC offers high quality, comprehensive health care to medically underserved and uninsured families. FHCHC serves over 18,000 patients at more than 80,000 appointments per year.