WASHINGTON, D.C. (WVDN) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), announced funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
This award, which was secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request made by Senator Capito, will be used to establish a behavioral-health workforce program, including curriculum and supportive services, which will address the West Virginia behavioral-health worker shortage. The award will also help ensure that an adequate pipeline of future providers have resources for behavioral-health care education.
“I was proud to secure this funding that will help expand West Virginia’s health care workforce,” Ranking Member Capito said. “I have heard so often of the need for trained professionals to help us alleviate the challenges we face. Ensuring that there are trained professionals in every health care sector, especially in mental health, is enormously important. As Ranking Member of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud to help prepare the next generation of health care workers to study and practice right here in West Virginia through projects like this.”
Individual award details listed below:
- $700,000 DOL CDS award to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Charleston, W.Va.) for behavioral-health career promotion and pipeline programming for K-12 and undergraduate students. This award will help students and professionals attain specialized treatment in areas like addiction and trauma, as well as telehealth proficiency.
