Sawtooth Mountain Clinic (SMC) recently received a grant award to support expansion of behavioral health services. The grant funding comes from the Health  Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and  Human Services (HHS). SMC will receive over $900,000 between now and August of 2026 to expand access to services such as outpatient therapy, substance use treatment, and recovery support. 

Mental Health America’s The State of Mental Health in America 2024 report highlights the need for this important expansion of services, emphasizing that the vast majority of people with a substance use disorder in the U.S. are not receiving treatment, 1 in 5 youth had at least one major depressive episode in the last year—with over half not receiving treatment, and 10 percent of adults with a mental illness are uninsured.  

“Access to behavioral health care is critical for communities of color and underserved groups,” said HHS  Secretary Xavier Becerra. “HRSA-funded health centers have a proven record of success in reaching underserved communities. This funding expands their access to essential behavioral health services  that will benefit entire communities.” 

SMC CEO Kate Surbaugh agrees, noting “Rural areas such as ours deserve the same access to behavioral  health resources as large cities, but it can be challenging to recruit providers and expand programs. This  funding will allow SMC to hire more licensed providers trained in mental health and substance use  disorder treatment – resulting in more local options for lifesaving health care.” 

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic currently has a Behavioral Health Department consisting of 4 licensed social  workers offering outpatient therapy, as well as a Medication Assisted Treatment program for opioid use  disorder. In addition, SMC offers a full range of primary and preventive healthcare, as well as an in house retail pharmacy and 24/7 Nurse Line. Call 218-387-2330 to find out more about health care  services. 

About Sawtooth Mountain Clinic 

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic has been a community health center for 45 years. Our mission is to provide  access to high-quality, patient-centered, primary and preventative healthcare for all persons  throughout SMC’s service area of Cook County Minnesota and the Anishinaabe Nation of the Grand  Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, on whose ancestral tribal lands we stand.