Project Grant H79SM086868

MERIDIAN CCBHC IMPROVEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT PROJECT - BASED ON CCBHC NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND OTHER LOCAL DATA, MERIDIAN CCBHC IMPROVEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT (CCBHC-IA) PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL ADDRESS DISPARITIES RELATED TO THE HIGH RATE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND ER VISITS FOR MENTAL DISORDERS IN THE CATCHMENT AREA. THE FOCUS POPULATION OF THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A MENTAL OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WHO SEEKS CARE, INCLUDING THOSE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI); SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD), INCLUDING OPIOID USE DISORDER; CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED); INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE DISORDERS (COD); AND INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE-RELATED CRISIS. THE PROJECT WILL TARGET SUBPOPULATIONS/COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES RELATED TO HIGH USE OF EMERGENCY ROOMS (ERS) AND HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR MENTAL DISORDERS. THE PROJECT'S PRIMARY CATCHMENT AREA WILL INCLUDE THE 11 COUNTIES IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA WHERE MERIDIAN HAS OFFICE LOCATIONS: ALACHUA, BAKER, BRADFORD, COLUMBIA, DIXIE, GILCHRIST, HAMILTON, LAFAYETTE, LEVY, SUWANNEE AND UNION. AMONG THESE COUNTIES, ONLY ONE IS A U.S. CENSUS DESIGNATED URBAN COUNTY (ALACHUA), AND THE REMAINING TEN ARE DESIGNATED RURAL. THE CCBHC-IA PROJECT WILL ADDRESS AREA GAPS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO INCLUDE INCREASED MOBILE CRISIS TEAMS (MRTS), WHICH SERVE AS AN IMPORTANT GATEWAY TO TREATMENT. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO IMPROVE HOSPITAL BRIDGE SERVICES TO TRANSITION INDIVIDUALS FROM THE ER/HOSPITAL TO CCBHC TREATMENT, AS WELL AS CULTURALLY COMPETENT, COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL TEAMS TO FOLLOW-UP AFTER MRT CONTACT AND TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION IN ONGOING OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. OTHER EXPANDED SERVICES, SUCH AS PEER SUPPORT AND BENEFITS ASSISTANCE, WILL FURTHER PROMOTE ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION IN SERVICES. PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: GOAL 1: REDUCE USE OF ACUTE CRISIS SERVICES AND DECREASE HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS BY CONSUMERS IN THE CATCHMENT AREA. OBJECTIVES: 1) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS TRANSITIONING TO CCBHC TREATMENT FROM ER/HOSPITAL DISCHARGE REFERRALS BY 10% EACH YEAR OF THE PROJECT THROUGH IMPROVED HOSPITAL BRIDGE SERVICES, PEER FOLLOW-UP, AND RELATED SERVICES. 2) REDUCE ADMISSIONS INTO MERIDIAN'S ACUTE, INPATIENT CRISIS CARE BY 10% BY YEAR 2 AND 10% EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR. GOAL 2: INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION OF CONSUMERS IN CCBHC TREATMENT AND RELATED SERVICES WITH EMPHASIS ON THOSE IDENTIFIED BY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AS BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES. OBJECTIVES: 1) INCREASE ENROLLMENT OF CONSUMERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR SERVICES IN MEDICAID, MEDICARE AND OTHER BENEFITS BY 20% IN YEAR 1 AND 25% IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF THE PROJECT PERIOD THROUGH EXPANDED CAPACITY TO DELIVER SOAR AND OTHER PERSON-CENTERED BENEFITS ASSISTANCE. 2) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BLACK CONSUMERS SERVED IN CCBHC TREATMENT AND RELATED SERVICES BY 10% EACH YEAR OF THE PROJECT PERIOD THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WITHIN TARGETED ALACHUA COUNTY ZIP CODE AREAS OF NEED. 3) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RURAL CONSUMERS SERVED IN CCBHC TREATMENT AND RELATED SERVICES BY 10% EACH YEAR OF THE PROJECT PERIOD THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WITHIN TARGETED COUNTIES. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE 500 PERSONS IN YEAR 1 AND 700 ANNUALLY EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 2,600 SERVED OVER THE ENTIRE PROJECT PERIOD.