Project Grant H79SM086755

NORTHEAST KINGDOM CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC PROJECT - NORTHEAST KINGDOM HUMAN SERVICES IS A NON-PROFIT DESIGNATED AGENCY IN VERMONT WITH 60 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PROVIDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES TO APPROXIMATELY 3,000 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. THERE ARE SEVERAL SOCIAL CONTRIBUTORS TO HEALTH THAT IMPACT INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM DISPROPORTIONALLY FROM THE REST OF THE STATE. THE MOST SALIENT CHALLENGES FACING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN THE NORTHEAST KINGDOM INCLUDE QUALIFIED STAFFING SHORTAGES TO MEET THE DEMAND OF SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH SMI AND SUD AND YOUTH WITH SED; SOCIAL DETERMINATES OF HEALTH SUCH AS: GEOGRAPHICAL ISOLATION, UNRELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, AND LIMITED INTERNET BANDWIDTH THAT IMPACT ACCESSIBILITY; AND A HIGH PROPORTION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEING UNINSURED OR OF LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. NKHS AIMS TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND QUALITY OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SMI, SUD, AND SED WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON REDUCING LONG WAIT TIMES, INCREASING THE USE OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES, AND CREATING CAPACITY AND EASIER ACCESSIBILITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED. OVER THE LAST YEAR NKHS HAS PREPARED FOR THE CCBHC-PDI GRANT THROUGH IMPROVING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, CREATING MEANINGFUL BUY-IN WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND IDENTIFYING GAPS IN SERVICES THROUGH HOSTING COMMUNITY PARTNER FORUMS AND DISSEMINATING CONSUMER FEEDBACK SURVEYS. THROUGH THIS WORK NKHS, ALONG WITH FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSUMERS, HAS IDENTIFIED TWO OVERARCHING GOALS THAT WILL AIM TO ADDRESS THE SALIENT CHALLENGES BEING FACED IN OUR REGION. THE FIRST GOAL IDENTIFIED IS THAT NKHS WILL ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE AND HIGH-QUALITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO TREATMENT BY PROMOTING PREVENTION, WELLNESS, AND EMPOWERMENT. THE SECOND GOAL THAT NKHS HAS IDENTIFIED IS TO ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT INSPIRE HOPE AND REDUCE STIGMA THROUGH EXPANDING THE USE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES INTO OUR CONTINUUM OF CARE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A COMPREHENSIVE AND HIGH-QUALITY ARRAY OF SERVICES. CURRENTLY NKHS PROVIDES EIGHT OF THE CORE SERVICES REQUIRED BY CCBHC, TO VARYING DEGREES, ONLY EXCLUDING PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. NKHS WILL ENHANCE THESE SERVICES TO INCLUDE MORE DATA-INFORMED AND EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICES THROUGH THIS FUNDING IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING TO PROVIDE ALL 9 SERVICES BY THE END OF YEAR ONE THROUGH STRATEGIC PROGRAM GROWTH, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP COLLABORATIONS, AND DCO AGREEMENTS. NKHS HAS PROPOSED SEVERAL SMART OBJECTIVES THAT ALIGN WITH CCBHC REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS THE 2022 NKHS STRATEGIC PLAN. OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE CARE COORDINATION, TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT, PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION SERVICES, 24-HOUR CRISIS RESPONSE, AND INTENSIVE VETERAN AND PEER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROPOSED AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE UPON THE REMAINING CCBHC REQUIRED SERVICES THROUGH MORE DATA-DRIVEN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. TO ENSURE NKHS IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE, SEVERAL EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE MODELS ARE PROPOSED OR WILL BE ENHANCED FROM THEIR CURRENT PRACTICE, AND THE QUALITY TEAM WILL ASSIST IN MONITORING THAT FIDELITY TO THE MODELS ARE MAINTAINED. NKHS AIMS TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 1800 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS FUNDING AS WELL AS ENHANCE CRITICAL HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT DATA INFORMED CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND RESULTS BASED ACCOUNTABILITY.