The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Sound Mental Health, a mental health clinic in Auburn, an approximately $940,000 grant to certify the clinic as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics provide round-the-clock crisis intervention and have requirements to serve anyone requesting assistance for mental health and substance use issues, regardless of residence, ability to pay, and age. In addition to standards of service, certified clinics have requirements to provide routine outpatient care within 10 days of initial contact.

The $940,298 grant will fund planning, development, and expansion of the Auburn clinic.

Four organizations in Washington, including Auburn’s Sound Mental Health clinic at 4238 Auburn Way N., will receive grant funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Clinics in Longview, Yakima, and Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood will also receive funding.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Sept. 21 the awarding of $127.7 million in grant funding nationwide to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

Mental health clinics in 40 states and Puerto Rico will receive up to $1 million per year for four years for the establishment and implementation of new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic programs and to support existing programs, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The Auburn grant will fund improved behavioral treatment for minority populations in King County, including support for opiate addiction recovery, including medication assisted treatment.

“More low-cost services like medication-assisted treatment and outpatient care options will now be available at Sound’s Seattle and Auburn locations thanks to these new CCBHC certifications,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell in a news release.