Direct Relief, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) today announced the funding of Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care grants, awarding $75,000 to each of 11 free and charitable clinics/pharmacies across Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. Now in its third year, the initiative continues to address the critical need for expanded mental health services in medically underserved communities.
“Every day uninsured patients face barriers to accessing basic mental health services they need,” said Carol Richardson, Sustainability and Health Equity Lead, Teva U.S. “This latest round of grant funding will enable clinics in more states to expand existing or develop innovative new behavioral health programs that meet the needs of their local patient populations”.
Over the first two years, Community Routes grantees demonstrated a significant impact across their communities reaching more than 63,000 beneficiaries. Clinics conducted 24,617 patient screenings for depression, anxiety, and adverse childhood experiences, helping identify and address previously unmet mental health needs. The program extended beyond direct patient care, with grantees training more than 2,800 community members, staff, and volunteers in mental health promotion and well-being. Additionally, clinics organized 131 community events to expand access to mental health education and services, strengthening their role as trusted healthcare resources.
Building on these achievements, this funding cycle prioritizes the creation and expansion of innovative care delivery models that integrate behavioral health services into existing clinical operations, with particular emphasis on evidence-based screening tools and treatment protocols for depression and anxiety.
“Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being, yet too many individuals in underserved communities struggle to access the care they need,” shared Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC President & CEO. “This program empowers clinics to bridge this gap by expanding behavioral health services and critical mental health support. By investing in these clinics, we are investing in the health and resilience of entire communities.”
The 2025 grant recipients include:
Alabama:
- Medical Outreach Ministries (Montgomery) – Leveraging academic partnerships through the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s psychiatry residency program to integrate mental health services into primary care.
- Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy (Mobile) – Implementing screening tools for depression and within pharmacy services and connecting patients to necessary resources.
- St. Michael’s Medical Clinic (Anniston) – Integrating mental health services with primary care and social support services to address the complex needs of uninsured and homeless populations.
Mississippi:
- Bethel Free Clinic, Inc. (Biloxi) – Enhancing mental health access for uninsured residents by integrating depression and anxiety screenings into patient care, referring those in need for further evaluation.
Texas:
- Brother Bill’s Helping Hand (Dallas) – Improving mental health access for predominantly Latino communities through integrated care, community-based outreach, and culturally competent services.
- Heal the City Free Clinic (Amarillo) – Implementing community-based stigma reduction programs to increase understanding of mental health conditions and encourage individuals to seek support.
- Health for All (Bryan) – Expanding trauma-informed mental health services access for underserved populations and delivering culturally sensitive services tailored to their diverse community’s needs.
- Ibn Sina Foundation (Houston) – Emphasizing equitable access by addressing the distinct mental health needs of multiple underserved populations. Mercy Clinic of Fort Worth – Integrating behavioral health services into routine care and establishing patient navigation systems for uninsured Spanish-speaking patients.
- The Agape Clinic (Dallas) – Developing comprehensive mental health support systems, including therapy, case management, and peer support, for the underserved patient population.
- Woven Health Clinic (Farmers Branch) – Integrating mental health services into primary care by offering screenings for depression and anxiety, connection to individual counseling, and treatment plans.
Selected programs emphasize sustainable integration of mental health services through:
- Implementation of standardized screening protocols
- Supporting the clinical workforce through partnerships
- Integration of behavioral health into primary care
- Extending cultural competency across the full continuum of patient care
- Social service referral networks
“Expanding mental health services in resource-limited settings has been a key focus of prior Community Routes funding, and this latest round will allow providers to reach even more people with critical services,” said Katie Lewis, Regional Director of U.S. Programs for Direct Relief. “These funds will allow clinics to build on successful approaches while exploring new strategies that fit the unique needs of the people and communities they serve.”
For a report on lessons learned from our Community Routes: Access to Mental Healthcare grantees, click here.
Community Routes: Access to Mental Health Care—a partnership between Teva, Direct Relief, and the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC)— is a unique access program that is helping to advance health equity and quality care for underserved populations across the U.S.
Teva is providing commonly used medicines that treat depression and anxiety to 400+ clinics in 10 states, as well as $4 million in grant funding to support innovative behavioral health services through local free and charitable clinics, tailored to meet the needs of their communities. To read more, click here.
