Press Release

October 30, 2006

Riverview Psychiatric Awarded National Grant

AUGUSTA - Riverview Psychiatric Center (RPC) Superintendent David Proffitt announced today that the facility has received a Co-Occurring State Integration Pilot Site Initiative Award from the State Association for Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

The award was one of 33 given nationally to organizations that demonstrate willingness and have the capability to implement integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment systems. RPC will receive $25,000 to be used over an 18-month period to develop and implement a comprehensive plan.

The phrase “co-occurring disorder” refers to a person with both mental health and substance abuse issues. RPC has been working collaboratively with Spring Harbor Hospital to develop an integrated program that includes a substance abuse treatment program within the hospital. This award will help to further work that has already begun.

“This award is provided to organizations that are willing to address the need to identify and treat substance abuse issues within a mental health setting head-on,” said Proffitt “Our team, led by Dr Teresa Mayo, the Director of the hospital’s Department of Psychology, jumped at the opportunity to build upon what we have already done here. This is clearly a vote of confidence for what our staff can do in the future.”