Nebraska organizations awarded about $3 million to expand behavioral health services

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — About $3 million in federal pandemic relief funding is being awarded to 27 projects across Nebraska, including Lincoln organizations. 

It is to develop behavioral health services and train workers.

This second round comes after 83 other projects received funding back in January.

CEDARS Youth Services will receive $114,965 for telemedicine for behavioral health in rural areas. That’s on top of the $254,272 it was granted in January. 

CenterPointe was awarded $72,000 for training and education opportunities. The organization, which provides behavioral health treatment, said this money will allow them to better prepare and pay interns.

CEO Topher Hansen said it could also help them with recruitment. 

“What we want to do is train new people to be part of the workforce, and then hopefully if they stay on, that would be wonderful because the workforce issues have been very dramatic,” Hansen said.

Grants from the second round were also awarded to other programs in Lincoln, like the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership and Nebraska Mental Health Centers. 

The funds will be distributed by the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska.