Project Grant H79SM088923

ADVANTAGE CCBHC IMPROVEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE - ADVANTAGE ATHENS-CLARKE CCBHC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED SYSTEM OF CARE FOCUSED ON TARGETED INTERVENTION FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS AT HIGH RISK OF SUICIDE OR OVERDOSE, THOSE IN NEED OF INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES, AND THOSE FACING DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO CARE BASED ON MINORITY OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. WE PLAN TO SERVE 1550 INDIVIDUALS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT: 200 YR1, 400 YR2, 450 YR3, AND 500 YR4. ADVANTAGE'S ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY CLINIC POPULATION OF FOCUS INCLUDES ADULTS AND YOUTH WITH ISOLATED OR CO-OCCURRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, WHO ARE UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED OR WHO LACK MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO NEEDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE. ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY IS AN URBAN COMMUNITY OF OVER 128,000 INDIVIDUALS OF WHOM 58% ARE WHITE, 25% ARE BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, 3.8% ARE ASIAN, WITH LESS THAN 1% AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN/OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER AND 6.7% IDENTIFYING AS 2 OR MORE RACES. 11.1% OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY RESIDENTS IDENTIFY AS HISPANIC. ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY FACING SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE ACCESS CHALLENGES ALONGSIDE INCREASING RATES OF YOUTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES AND DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS. SUICIDE REMAINS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH, AND MANY RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO FACE CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH POVERTY. ADVANTAGE'S ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY CCBHC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT GOALS ALIGN CLOSELY WITH THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THIS COMMUNITY: GOAL 1: ENHANCE PROGRAMMING FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING INCREASED STAFF TRAINING ON YOUTH-SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS AND BY ESTABLISHING A FAMILY TREATMENT TEA (FTT) MODEL FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUTH EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. GOAL 2: ENHANCE OUR INTEGRATED HEALTH PROGRAM THROUGH INCREASED COORDINATED PRIMARY CARE ACTIVITIES, EXPANDED HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON CHRONIC ILLNESS PREVENTION, AND EXPANSION OF OUR COORDINATED CARE MODEL THROUGH IMPROVED REFERRAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CARE COORDINATION ACTIVITIES. GOAL 3: IMPROVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS PROGRAMMING FOR HIGH-RISK SUBSTANCE USERS BY PROVIDING STAFF TRAINING ON PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION WITH HIGH-RISK SUD POPULATIONS AND TARGETED INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS IDENTIFIED RISK FACTORS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT DURING TIMES OF TRANSITION. GOAL 4: ELEVATE STANDARDS OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING WITH RECENT OR CURRENT SUICIDAL IDEATION BY PROVIDING STAFF TRAINING ON SUICIDE SPECIFIC CARE AND TARGETED INTERVENTION TO PREVENT SUICIDE DEATHS.