Western montana mental health center's ccbhc expansion project - western montana mental health center (WMMHC) ccbhc expansion project will establish the first certified community behavioral health…

Western montana mental health center's ccbhc expansion project - western montana mental health center (WMMHC) ccbhc expansion project will establish the first certified community behavioral health clinic in the state of montana at its missoula county campus. Combined with WMMHC's four other campuses, this new ccbhc can serve individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorders (SUD) and CO-occurring mental and substance use disorders (COD), as well as children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED) in nineteen western montana counties. Veterans, american indians and low-income households are included in the populations to be served. All counties in montana are health professional shortage areas (HPSA). Low population density across an expansive land area makes montana one of the most rural states in the united states (US) and creates communities isolated from health services that do exist. Montana is a poor state with a median household income 12.8% less than the national median. American indians - who experience a disparate incidence of poverty, lower life expectancy, suicide, substance abuse and access to quality mental health care - comprise the largest racial minority at 6.6% (1.3% US). Eight percent of montana adults are veterans (5.7% US). Montana is consistently ranked in the top ten states in terms of risk factors for alcohol use among 18 to 25-year old adults, and for the past thirty years, montana has ranked in the top five for suicide rates in the nation for all age groups. SMI, SUD, COD, and SED exist in montana at rates higher than national averages and communities consistently report barriers to access and isolation from services in needs assessments. Three counties in western montana are experiencing rapid population growth outpacing health services availability. WMMHC's goals are to establish the first ccbhc in montana; increase access to evidence-based, person- and family-centered integrated behavioral healthcare; and improve the quality of community mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for 1000 new clients in its first year and 1500 in its second year for a total of 2500 new clients. Objectives and strategies include gaining licensure for primary care, hiring primary care staff, and training clinical staff in collaborative care and integrated care to qualify as a ccbhc within four months of the grant award. Additionally, WMMHC will increase access by implementing telehealth and same-day access, establishing a call center, utilizing an appointment reminder system, expanding targeted case management and mobile crisis services, and implementing culturally and linguistically sensitive translation services. Finally, WMMHC will improve the quality of care by recruiting and maintaining licensed personnel with professional development training; engaging regional educational institutions to provide residency, fellowship or internship opportunities; hiring one FTE psychiatrist; and upgrading its electronic health record.