Project Grant H79SM086731

HORIZON HEALTH CCBHC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM - HORIZON HEALTH WILL UTILIZE CCBHC FUNDS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE HEALTH CLINIC (CCBHC) IN RURAL SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY. THE TARGET SERVICE AREA FOR THIS PROJECT INCLUDES THREE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE COUNTIES INCLUDING KNOX, LAUREL AND WHITLEY IN SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY'S APPALACHIAN REGION. HORIZON HEALTH WILL PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS BY SERVING 400 INDIVIDUALS IN YEAR 1, 250 IN YEAR 2, 250 IN YEAR 3 AND 250 IN YEAR 4 OF THE GRANT PROJECT PERIOD. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL TARGET OUR SERVICES TOWARDS RESIDENTS OF THE SERVICE AREA WHO HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS OR ARE IMPACTED BY SUD/OUD. OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS IN KENTUCKY, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION WITH A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS HAS RISEN FROM 4.1% TO 5%. AMONG THE MEDICARE POPULATION 19.4% IS DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION COMPARED TO 16.7% NATIONALLY. THE SERVICE AREA HAS A SUICIDE ATTEMPT RATE AND SELF-INJURY RATE (AS REPORTED BY HOSPITALS) OF 63.8 PER 100,000. WHITLEY COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE FOUR HIGHEST RATES OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND SELF-INFLICTED INJURIES IN THE STATE. THE SUICIDE RATE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IS 15.2 PER 100,000 COMPARED TO 12.5 PER 100,000 NATIONALLY. THE SERVICE AREA HAS A TOTAL POPULATION OF 127,354. THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IS WHITE (97.1%) WITH PERSONS AGES 18-64 (60.7%) MAKING UP THE LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC FOLLOWED BY 15.6% ARE 65 YEARS AND OLDER AND 23.7% OF THE POPULATION IS UNDER THE AGE OF 18. THE POVERTY RATE IN THE REGION OF 26.9% IS OVER 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL RATE (15,5%) WITH AN INCREDIBLY HIGH RATE OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY (INCOMES LESS THAN 50% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL) AT 11.2%. GOALS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF OUTREACH, SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT CARE COORDINATION AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS, TO ESTABLISH AN INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE MODEL THAT COMBINES SUD/BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WITH PRIMARY CARE TO DECREASED SUBSTANCE USE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY PROVIDING 24/7 ACCESS AND DIRECTED SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS, TO DECREASE SUBSTANCE USE IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES BY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND OFFERING CCBHC SERVICES THAT TREAT BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO SEEK TO DECREASE YOUTH SUD IN THE COMMUNITY BY IMPLEMENTING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS INTO LOCAL SCHOOLS THAT ADDRESS BEHAVIORS THAT MAY LEAD TO INITIATION OF USE. FOCUS ON THE RECOVERY POPULATION WILL INCLUDE AN INCREASE IN RECOVERY AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES AMONG PROGRAM CONSUMERS REENTERING THE WORKFORCE. AND, WE WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT A WIDESPREAD FOCUS ON EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.