The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded the Seldovia Village Tribe $250,000 in Affordable Care Act funding to establish or expand behavioral health services, Administrator Mary Wakefield announced in a press release on Nov. 6. 

SVT is one of four Alaska health centers to receive $1 million in funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Nationally, 210 health centers received $51.3 million in Affordable Care Act funding in the latest round of announcements. Earlier in 2014, 223 other health centers received $54.5 million in ACA funding for behavioral health treatment.

“Today’s awards will give Alaska health centers the ability to improve access and care for individuals in need of mental health service,” Wakefield said in a press release. “These funds support the administration’s focus on improving recognition of and response to mental health needs of Alaskans and people nationwide.”