Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel announced the awarding of a Department of Health and Human Services grant of $141,570 for the Riverdale Mental Health Association to buy and upgrade equipment for maintaining patient records electronically.

Rep. Engel said, “For 50 years the Riverdale Mental Health Association, since its founding by community leaders in 1959, has been a provided a full range of treatment services for all ages and all problems which can be treated on an out patient basis. RMHA also has a substance abuse program that offers services to persons who seek help to become free of drug and/or alcohol abuse, and for their families.

“This grant money, which I requested be included in the budget, will help this fine agency to electronically maintain records, a method demonstrated to be more accurate while preventing inadvertent errors.”

Robert Brewster, Executive Director of RMHA, said, “From the time he was an Assemblyman, Eliot Engel has been a staunch supporter of RMHA and services for people with psychiatric and substance abuse problems. He’s always been a fighter for people with mental disabilities and led the successful fight for equity in the coverage of mental health and substance abuse disorders with medical and surgical disorders.”

RMHA serves the northwest Bronx and surrounding areas, including Community Boards 5 thru 8. The agency's Supported Employment program serves the Bronx, Manhattan and Westchester and its supervised residence and apartment programs serve the entire Bronx.