Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined Lowell Community Health Center (CHC) CEO Susan West Levine, and other Lowell CHC executives to announce Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to provide direct patient services for new programs providing rapid HIV testing in community-based settings and support for refugee survivors of torture. The “Passage to Healing” program will be receiving $475,000/year and the “Partners in Prevention” program will be receiving $500,000; totaling $4,875,000 over the next five years. 

“An investment in Lowell Community Health Center is an investment in the health and well-being of our community. I’m thrilled that this funding will go towards continuing the essential public health work being done here every day,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “This federal funding is going to expand crucial resources and support for underserved members of our community who need this care most.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Department of Health and Human Services and for the support of Congresswoman Trahan,” said Susan West Levine, CEO of Lowell Community Health Center. “These grants will allow us to address direct patient needs in two critical areas: increasing access to care to address the longstanding physical and psychological effects of torture and increasing capacity to provide rapid HIV testing in community-based settings. We look forward to working with our partners over the next five years to truly impact health and well-being in Lowell in these areas.”

Lowell CHC’s “Passage to Healing” program provides primary and secondary survivors of torture with treatment and resources such as culturally tailored and evidence-based screenings, primary and behavioral health care, and workforce-related and legal support. The project is designed to serve as many as 325 survivors of torture annually. This includes newer refugees with severe trauma experiences and settled refugee communities such as Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Congolese, Iraqi, Laotian, Ugandan, Vietnamese, Haitian, Afghan, and other refugees that continue to need access to care. 

The “Partners in Prevention” program aims to address significant HIV testing gaps throughout Greater Lowell. Through the implementation of 4th generation rapid HIV testing and partnerships with Life Connection Center and UMass Lowell, the initiative will increase testing capacity in community-based settings and increase general HIV status knowledge among the population. They aim to serve 1,000 individuals over the next 5 years. 

Lowell CHC’s “Passage to Healing” program is receiving HHS funding through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Direct Services for Survivors of Torture (DS SOT) grant program. Lowell CHC’s “Partners in Prevention” program is receiving HHS funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

Congresswoman Trahan has consistently supported funding for Lowell CHC and other health centers throughout the Third District, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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