Colorado City, AZ – Representative Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-04) issued the following statement in response to the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to award a $500,000 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Mental and Behavioral Health Care Support grant to Creek Valley Health Clinic in Colorado City, Arizona.

“I am pleased to announce that Creek Valley Health Clinic will receive this critical funding to continue the vital role of caring for people with drug addiction and behavioral and mental health needs in a dignified, private, and successful way.

I recently held a town hall meeting in Colorado City to discuss with community leaders and residents the growing need to assist those too often forgotten by substance use and mental health disorders in this fast-growing city.

This critical funding could not come at a more important time and will help ensure that Creek Valley Health Clinic has the necessary funds to continue to improve rural behavioral health care services while offering hope to many more individuals struggling with emotional and psychological needs and want to recover,” concluded Congressman Gosar.

Hunter Adams, CEO, Creek Valley Health Clinic added: “Creek Valley Health Clinic is immensely grateful for this award, as it will make a positive impact in its rural community for decades to come.  Creek Valley would like to extend its gratitude to all local, regional, state, and federal partners and representatives for their support, advocacy, and investment in rural healthcare.”

Background:

On August 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Congressional Grant Notification of an HHS discretionary grant award to Creek Valley Health Clinic to provide $500,000 in federal funding to help combat opioid addiction and mental and behavioral health challenges in rural communities.

The Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) is a multi-year initiative by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) aimed at reducing the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD) in high-risk rural communities. Funding under the RCORP–Behavioral Health Care Support (RCORP-BHS) will advance RCORP’s overall goal of improving access to and quality of SUD and other behavioral health care services in rural communities. including increasing access to prevention, treatment and recovery services to improve the care for those affected by behavioral health conditions, which may include substance use and mental health disorders.

Located in Colorado City, Creek Valley Health Clinic is the only Arizona-based medical center in a 75-mile radius. As such, it offers extensive medical, behavioral, and supporting services to nearby communities, and this award will allow it to expand and improve behavioral health services in northern Arizona.