Ccbhc improvement and advancement grant - central kansas mental health center (CKMHC) will expand and enhance our behavioral health crisis system within saline county by developing a comprehensive…

Ccbhc improvement and advancement grant - central kansas mental health center (CKMHC) will expand and enhance our behavioral health crisis system within saline county by developing a comprehensive array of intensive emergency responses and stabilization services that support continued ccbhc certification. CKMHC population of focus is youth and adults at high risk for state hospitalization, emergency room (ER) visits, incarceration and recidivism, and law enforcement intervention. The population served by CKMHC faces numerous roadblocks to services, often resulting in people waiting until a crisis arises to seek help. This results in a high percentage of people with a mental health crisis turning to ERS, experiencing intervention from law enforcement, or exacerbating substance use disorders (SUD). At 108.4 per 10,000, saline county faces the 3RD highest BH hospital admission rate within the state, and CKMHC's catchment faces an overall higher BH hospital admission rate . Based on current prevalence rates, an estimated 27,000 individuals in this catchment area are currently experiencing a mental health challenge, including 11% of the population who struggle with frequent mental distress. CKMHC, the only community mental health center safety net serving the area, reached just 4,394 in 2021, or 16% of those in need. In order for CKMHC to decrease crisis service barriers for disparity populations and retain quality crisis staff, we will: engage community partners to establish an integrated and comprehensive crisis continuum of care, utilize strategic recruiting and retention efforts to actively seek, hire, and retain qualified candidates, and improve our behavioral health crisis system by enhancing mobile service capacities that support continued ccbhc certification. Proposed project objectives include, but are not limited to; (1) CKMHC will embed 2 CO-responder clinicians within the salina police department and saline county sheriff's office, (2) CKMHC will have developed a multi-tiered and community supported mobile crisis team made up of 7 individuals, (3) CKMHC will provide 2 annual educational and outreach events to establish crisis competencies with 5 community partners, and (4) CKMHC will offer salary differential options for crisis clinical and community-based staff. Grant funds will serve 1,450 unduplicated individuals over the 4 year grant period, and will allow US to increase community access to crisis care and to create new referral workflows and procedures with key community partners to facilitate crisis intervention, care coordination, crisis discharge, and follow-up.