Children's service center ccbhc - the children's service center ccbhc will provide comprehensive 24/7 access to mental health and substance use disorder services and physical healthcare in one…

Children's service center ccbhc - the children's service center ccbhc will provide comprehensive 24/7 access to mental health and substance use disorder services and physical healthcare in one single location. The service population includes children, adolescents, and adults with, or at-risk of, serious mental illness; individuals with substance use disorders; and individuals with CO-occurring mental health and substance use disorders in luzerne and wyoming counties in northeastern pennsylvania. Luzerne is a mid-sized county with a more urban/suburban population and a racial/ethnic make-up of 89% white, 13.8% hispanic, and 6.6% black. Wyoming is a small, rural county with a population that is 97% white. There are no ccbhcs currently serving these counties. There are 3 primary problems and service gaps to be addressed by the CSC-ccbhc: 1) insufficient access to behavioral health services, 2) inadequate availability of evidence-based approaches, and 3) the absence of an integrated approach to behavioral health and primary health care in the two counties. Children's service center (CSC) will work closely with the wright center for community health in developing the certified community behavioral health clinic (ccbhc). The ccbhc opportunity will enable CSC and the wright center to move from CO-location to full integration. Care coordinators will be responsible for bringing together behavioral health and physical health care and assuring that consumers have a key voice in the planning and service delivery process. Wellness nurses will be hired to promote and coordinate integrated care. Health coaches will be directly involved with consumers, coaching on primary and behavioral health practices. Evidence-based practices will be developed and expanded to assure that the most effective mental health and substance use services are provided. The goal of the cchbc is significantly improved physical health and behavioral health for residents of the two counties. There will be 500 individuals receiving integrated primary health care and behavioral health care in year one of the grant and 750 individuals in year two. In the two years of the ccbhc grant 1,250 individuals will be involved in the integrated health/behavioral health initiative. CSC will establish an advisory work group (AWG) comprised with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders and family members. The AWG will meet BI-monthly to monitor ccbhc implementation and to provide input and guidance to the CSC board on implementation, services, and policies. CSC will develop and implement plans for expansion and sustainability to ensure that the ccbhc becomes established as the expected way of providing services and that IT will continue once federal funding ends. CSC consulted with the pennsylvania office of mental health and substance abuse services in developing the grant application and will work with the state to expand and sustain the ccbhc. CSC will also consult with other ccbhcs and will seek expert consultation in expanding and sustaining the ccbhc long after the samhsa grant ends.