U.S. Rep. McGovern announces Department of Health & Human Services Grants for Family Health Center, Clark University

U.S. Rep. McGovern announces Department of Health & Human Services Grants for Family Health Center, Clark University

United States Representative Jim McGovern announced two federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services for Worcester organizations today.

The Family Health Center of Worcester received $367,630 to continue funding of their Health Center Cluster, while a study at Clark Universityon Postpartum Mental Health among Visible and Invisible Minority Women will be funded for $718,722 over the next three and a half years.

"These competitive grants once again illustrate the incredible work being done in health research and health services in Worcester," said Congressman McGovern. "We are fortunate to have organizations like Family Health Center and Clark University leading the charge to ensure that our residents - all of them - get the physical and mental care they deserve."

Family Health Center's grant will be used to continue to deliver comprehensive primary health care for vulnerable populations, including low-income families, individuals with chronic disease and complex medical conditions, culturally and linguistically diverse residents, pregnant women and children in school based health centers.

"This grant is the early funding of a five year commitment by the federal government to support the efforts of Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. to provide high quality, culturally competent health care to all, regardless of ability to pay," said Family Health Center Executive Director Frances Anthes. "We are thrilled to receive continued funding and honored to provide this care to Worcester area residents of all ages."

Clark University's grant is being awarded to a study being led by Professor Abbie Goldbrg of the Psychology Department. This study will examine postpartum depression in a diverse group of women: namely, heterosexual women, visible sexual minority women (i.e., lesbian women) and invisible sexual minority women (i.e., who have a history of sexual relationships with women but who are partnered with men at the time that they become parents).

"This research has exciting possibilities for shifting our understanding of sexual identity, behavior, and relationship history and their implications for mental health, particularly during the transition to parenthood," said Professor Goldberg. "We hope that our findings will be able to inform the practice of health care providers who interface with women during the perinatal period."