Missouri to receive five-year, $14 million federal grant to improve mental health services

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) on Thursday announced that the state will receive a five-year, $14 million federal grant to improve mental health services, the AP/Kansas City Star reports.

Blunt will use the grant to establish a state Mental Health Transformation group (AP/Kansas City Star, 9/1).

The group -- which will include officials from the departments of Mental Health, Social Services, Health and Senior Services, Corrections, Public Safety, and Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as residents who receive mental health services and their families -- will develop a plan to improve mental health services provided by the departments (Mahr/Tuft, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/31).

Diane McFarland, director of the state Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services in the mental health department, will lead the group.

Blunt in a statement said, "It is a valuable opportunity to build on the improvements we have already made to our state's mental health programs and to continue efforts to enhance care and maximize tax dollars through more efficient and user-friendly processes" (AP/Kansas City Star, 9/1).