Support our own is a comprehensive approach to addressing behavioral healthcare in berks, montgomery and chester county, PA by meeting people where they are at

The support our own project will increase access to behavioral health services through street medicine, enhanced screening, and warm handoff services in the emergency department (ED) at pottstown hospital for individuals who are homeless, uninsured/underinsured or with medical assistance. Street medicine works to bring healthcare to those experiencing homelessness, whether that be at a tent in the woods, in their car, or under a bridge. The purpose of the program is to (1) reduce unnecessary ED visits and hospitalizations for those experiencing homelessness for both behavioral and physical health needs (2) build trust and establish improved relationships between medical providers and those experiencing homelessness so that we can (3) bridge the GAP to routine primary care and behavioral healthcare. The support our own project will expand current street medicine services by increasing the service area as well as expanding service hours. The project will enhance current warm handoff services by having an onsite and internal mental health counselor to work alongside patients in connecting to both inpatient and outpatient behavioral healthcare treatment. In addition, this role would expand beyond the emergency department, and continue to follow patients once discharged to ensure services are received. To capture patients at an early stage and ensure preventive care, the support our own project will also screen for sdoh among vulnerable populations and provide counseling and connection to local resources. Other screening efforts will include a new mental health screening kiosk, which will be placed around the community in various locations to increase early identification of mental health needs. The program will serve approximately 1,000 unique individuals during the grant period by accomplishing the following goals and objectives: goal #1: increase access to behavioral health services by removing common barriers to care for those experiencing homelessness and individuals who are uninsured/underinsured objective 1: by september 29TH, 2023, increase street medicine patient engagement in outpatient and inpatient behavioral health services by 20% objective 2: by september 29TH, 2023, utilize telehealth to provide on the spot mental health treatment to 30 street medicine patients objective 3: by september 29TH, 2023, provide ED case management/counseling services to 15% of patients presenting with behavioral health needs goal #2: increase early dedication of mental health and social needs among community members by developing new screening programs for mental health and social determinants of health objective 1: by september 29TH, 2023, screen 250 patients for sdoh needs and provide counseling support for patients with identified needs objective 2: by september 29TH, 2023, screen 300 patients for mental health needs using a mental health screening kiosk in the community