Rural health care services outreach grant program - strengthening rural communities: behavioral health access for union county addresses significant behavioral health disparities faced by residents of…

Rural health care services outreach grant program - strengthening rural communities: behavioral health access for union county addresses significant behavioral health disparities faced by residents of union county, new mexico, a rural community designated as a health professional shortage area (HPSA) and medically underserved area (MUA). The target population includes rural, underserved residents, with a focus on hispanic individuals (40.7% of the population), people living in poverty (18.4% of residents), and children and youth. These subpopulations experience disproportionate barriers to accessing behavioral health care due to cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic challenges, as well as a lack of local mental health resources. This project will establish a behavioral health clinic at union county general hospital to address these inequities. The clinic will provide counseling, telehealth psychiatric care, and case management services, tailored to meet the unique needs of the community. The project will also develop a referral and follow-up system in collaboration with consortium partners-clayton municipal schools and clayton fire rescue EMS-to ensure early identification of at-risk individuals and timely connection to care. Using the evidence-informed hub-and-spoke model, the clinic will act as the hub for direct services, with consortium partners serving as referral spokes. The model will be adapted to include proactive training for school and EMS staff on identifying behavioral health needs and connecting individuals with clinic services. Expected outcomes include increased access to culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health care, improved care coordination, and a reduction in behavioral health-related emergency room visits. By year 4, the clinic will expand to include substance use disorder treatment and lifespan behavioral health services, sustained through program income and community collaboration. The eastern plains council of governments (EPCOG), the applicant organization, has extensive experience supporting rural communities and leading multi-sector partnerships. EPCOG's leadership in projects like the hrsa rural community opioid response program highlights its capacity to implement and sustain this initiative. Funding preferences: EPCOG qualifies for two funding preferences based on the following: health professional shortage area (HPSA): union county, new mexico, is designated as an HPSA. Medically underserved area/population (MUA/MUP): union county general hospital, located at 300 wilson ST., clayton, NM 88415, is in an officially designated MUA.