07/24/2003

PROVIDENCE -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Rhode Island a grant of $494,568 to provide mental health treatment to victims of the Feb. 20 fire at The Station nightclub.

The grant comes through the department's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The state will use the money to pay for "ongoing mental health and substance abuse needs of victims, family members, survivors, first responders and natural helpers affected by the tragic events of the fire," Governor Carcieri's office said in a statement.

In February, the state received an emergency award of $50,000 through the same federal agencies to help pay for initial crisis counseling after the fire.

Carcieri said he was thankful for the support "for those who urgently need these services."

The grant will also support a series of specialized training events for statewide clinical staff working with victims and families, school personnel, emergency responders, burn-care providers and burn victims. This includes the partial support of a workshop to be conducted by the Phoenix Burn Society, a national advocacy and peer support organization for families and survivors of serious burn injuries, according to Carcieri's office.