Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Recognizes Behavioral Health Providers for their Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

MIAMI, FL. (October 2019) – On Monday, October 21, a number of Care Resource Behavioral Health providers were identified by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to receive an award under the newly funded Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Loan Repayment Program. They include Cari Baumgardner, LMHC, Clinical Counselor; Clayton Harrison, LMHC, MCAP, NCC, MFTI, Clinical Counselor; and Sherly Constant, LCSW, MCAP, Lead Clinical Counselor.

The SUD Loan Repayment Program offers educational loan repayment to licensed practitioners who provide treatment for substance use disorder and opioid addiction. They must serve in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas and high substance use counties. Loan repayment is extended to clinicians in exchange for a three-year service commitment to the program.

In providing consistent and compassionate care to underserved and high-use communities, these Care Resource clinicians are not only improving the quality of lives but saving them. The Behavioral Health Department, led by Thomas Smith, Ph.D., LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, Director plays a key role in furthering Care Resource’s mission of integrated care, working with the Medical Department on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), a comprehensive approach to substance use disorder. MAT is the use of medications in conjunction with counseling to provide a patient-centered approach to the treatment of substance use disorders.

Recognition by HRSA confirms the clinicians’ commitment to the behavioral health of patients who experience substance use disorders, and to the health center’s overall standard of care. Care Resource was recognized by HRSA among the top 20% of health centers for clinical quality in the nation.

As one of the first cohorts of the National Health Services Corps (NHSC) to be awarded under the newly funded SUD Loan Repayment program, these four clinicians are furthering Care Resource’s mission to attend to the behavioral health of our communities most in need.

About Care Resource:
Care Resource is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with four locations in Midtown Miami, Little Havana, Miami Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The health center provides comprehensive health and support services to address the full health care needs of South Florida’s pediatric, adolescent and adult populations.