Expansion of services to become a ccbhc. - the central kansas mental health center (CKMHC) certified community behavioral health center will provide access to evidence-based behavioral health…

Expansion of services to become a ccbhc. - the central kansas mental health center (CKMHC) certified community behavioral health center will provide access to evidence-based behavioral health treatment for children and adults, regardless of their ability to pay. CKMHC will target those with the most serious needs within rural SALINE, dickinson, lincoln, ottawa, and ellsworth counties, where 22,500 individuals are experiencing mental health/substance use issues. Of the 22,500, 58% are not presently in treatment. Within this largely medically underserved area, 24% of jobs are in farming, and veterans comprise 7.5% of the population. Our most populated county (SALINE) has a rate of depression within the medicare population that is double the national average and the second highest rate of behavioral health (BH) hospital admission rates in the state. Nearly 7% of adults are on medication for depression , with heavy drinking rates higher than the US average and opioid use rates double the national average. Our statewide suicide rate is twice as much as the US rate during the past several decades; 82% of salina county youth indicated suicidal plans and 57% of ottawa county youth indicated serious suicidal thoughts. To improve behavioral health availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability, our proposed project will add additional staff, staff training, infrastructure support and targeted partnerships. We will extend access to integrated care across our service system, establish consistent use of evidence-based practices (EBPS), and expand our suicide prevention and BH education/awareness trainings. Proposed project objectives include, but aren't limited to,: (1) hiring 10 new staff and 8 new student interns; (2) establishing transportation assistance and new service locations (4 new school districts, 2 new satellite offices, and via telehealth); (3) providing BH screening for 2,000 adults and 1,500 children annually; (4) engaging 550 new individuals with SMI, 100 veterans, 500 children, and 95 older adults in treatment and implementing assertive community treatment (act) for 100 adults and collaborative care for 30 adults in residential SUD treatment. We will improve BH outcomes by 10% for youth with SED and adults with SMI or spmi, as measured by assessments at baseline. Grant funds will serve 4,402 unduplicated individuals annually; including 1,000 new clients (650 new adults and 350 new children/youth); and 2,000 new enrollees over the entire project period (1,300 adults and 700 children).