Bridgeway integrated health services. - bridgeway rehabilitation services (BRS) is applying for grant funding to become a certified community behavioral health center (CCBHC)

The project, titled bridgeway integrated health services (BIHS), will provide underserved and at-risk children and adults in hudson county, new jersey with intensive mental health and/or substance use services, or behavioral health (BH) services. BRS intends to serve 250 unduplicated individuals in the first year and at least 600 individuals over the lifetime of the project. Hudson county is a racially and ethnically diverse region with higher prevalence of poverty (13.7%), and uninsured individuals (12.9%) compared to the statewide average. Current wait times for outpatient BH services in the county is 30+ days while the demand for mental health and substance use services increases. This is a key factor to the county experiencing higher rates of BH-related crisis calls and ED visits. BIHS' open access service model will offer same day and walk-in access to address this critical community need and reduce the reliance upon emergency department and crisis services. The project goals include increased access to community-based BH services (reducing wait time for care), improved physical health integration and coordination of care (reduction in unmet physical health issues or gaps in services) and improved overall care and support (increased use of EBP resulting in symptom reduction, reducing treatment attrition, participant satisfaction). To meet these goals BIHS will offer our population of focus immediate access to appropriate, evidence-based, screening, assessment and treatment services to improve access and better address current unmet need. With CCBHC grant funding, BRS will build on our 50+ years serving these communities by: - offering a centralized, open access program model offering all required out-patient BH services, including a living room model and mat services, to children, youth and adults. - improving engagement of new participants through navigation and peer services and addressing their current needs through fast tracking to the treatment and supports they need and want on day one. - implementing walk-in and same day services, with evening and weekend hours to offer flexibility to individuals working and caring for family. - implementing 24-hour call service to provide proactive clinical and case management interventions to address participant needs and reducing the incidence of crises. - implementing DCO partnerships with the north hudson community action corporation fqhc (integrated physical health), spectrum healthcare, INC. (methadone services) and collaborative support programs of NJ (peer, psychiatric rehabilitation, and support services) - implementing affiliation and business associates agreements with the hudson county office of veterans affairs to expand intensive community-based mental health care for members of the armed forces and veterans.