Prairie view's ccbhc expansion project - a quarter of kansans report being unable to receive behavioral health treatment due to a variety of factors: lack of health insurance, inability to pay, or…

Prairie view's ccbhc expansion project - a quarter of kansans report being unable to receive behavioral health treatment due to a variety of factors: lack of health insurance, inability to pay, or shortage of qualified mental health professionals. Prairie view's community behavioral health clinic expansion project would improve access by expanding clinical capacity to provide mental and substance abuse services, utilize technology, and incorporate supportive services to facilitate improved general health, housing, and employment status. We will improve access to behavioral health services and increase the penetration rate for the populations in greatest need of mental health or substance use treatment, especially uninsured and underinsured individuals, older adults, veterans, residents of more rural areas, people of color, and other populations such as those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since 99 of 105 kansas counties - including all of western and central kansas - are classified as mental health professional shortage areas by the kansas department of health and environment, 10% of our population lives in poverty, and up to 25% of residents have no health insurance, these services will address a severe need. We will expand capacity for service delivery with these additional financial resources to hire staff to provide clinical and enabling services. Through closer collaboration with a multitude of community partners and together with the use of expanded technology, we will have the ability to overcome barriers and limitations and significantly increase access in remote locations. Since 37% of children have childhood psychiatric disorders and 25% of adults have a diagnosable mental illness, our efforts to address these behavioral health needs will lead to more efficient and effective use of public resources including funding for schools, law enforcement, emergency medical services, community hospitals, court services, jails and detention centers and state mental health hospitals. As a faith-based organization, prairie view has a long history as a values-driven, patient-centered, clinically competent, and high-achieving provider of a comprehensive range of behavioral health services. Our decades long record of accreditation by the joint commission and demonstrated alignment with community agencies and stakeholders should provide assurance of our ability to promptly and capably deliver all ccbhc services very quickly.