The behavioral health access and recovery of kansas initiative - project title: behavioral health access and recovery for kansas (BHARK) the behavioral health access and recovery for kansas (BHARK)…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Kansas Judiciary Courts, Office of Judicial Administration, $400,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.490).

The Behavioral Health Access and Recovery for Kansas (BHARK) initiative will establish a court-facilitated behavioral health access model designed to reduce delays between judicial referral and participant engagement in treatment services. The project will operate Secure Behavioral Health Access Points (BHAPs) located in courthouses and other court-connected sites across six rural Kansas judicial districts (the 8th, 9th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, and 30th), serving Dickinson, Geary, Harvey, McPherson, Cowley, Riley, Ellis, and Sumner counties. Through BHAPs, eligible participants will receive immediate behavioral health screening, assessment, crisis intervention, and connection to evidence-based treatment from regional certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs), replacing passive judicial referrals with active court facilitation. The project targets an average of approximately 200 unduplicated participants annually and an estimated 1,000 unduplicated participants over the five-year project period.

Performance runs through September 29, 2031, with administrative oversight and place of performance at Topeka, Kansas. The Kansas Judicial Branch will administer the five-year proof-of-concept demonstration in partnership with participating treatment courts and regional CCBHCs serving a service area of approximately 276,000 residents.

The behavioral health access and recovery of kansas initiative - project title: behavioral health access and recovery for kansas (BHARK) the behavioral health access and recovery for kansas (BHARK) initiative will test a court-facilitated behavioral health access model designed to reduce delays between judicial referral and participant engagement in behavioral health services. Through secure behavioral health access points (BHAPS) located in courthouses and other approved court-connected sites, eligible participants will be immediately connected with clinicians from regional certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCS) for behavioral health screening, assessment, crisis intervention, and connection to evidence-based treatment. Rather than relying on participants to independently navigate the behavioral health system after a court order, BHARK enables the court to actively facilitate timely entry into care. By replacing passive referrals with active court facilitation, BHARK seeks to improve treatment engagement, strengthen recovery outcomes, and establish a practical model for expanding behavioral health access in rural kansas. The kansas judicial branch, office of judicial administration, will administer this five-year proof-of-concept demonstration in partnership with participating treatment courts and regional CCBHCS. The project will target six rural judicial districts selected to represent diverse geographic regions, treatment court structures, and behavioral health service environments. Preferred implementation jurisdictions include the 8TH, 9TH, 19TH, 21ST, 23RD, and 30TH judicial districts, serving dickinson, geary, harvey, mcpherson, cowley, riley, ellis, and sumner counties. The proposed service area includes approximately 276,000 residents. BHARK will serve an average of approximately 200 unduplicated participants annually and an estimated 1,000 unduplicated participants over the five-year project period. The target population includes adults age 18 and older participating in adult drug treatment courts and family treatment courts who have diagnosed substance use disorders, many with CO-occurring mental illness and other complex behavioral health needs. Participants frequently experience delays after judicial referral because of transportation barriers, provider shortages, and difficulty navigating the behavioral health system. BHARK addresses these barriers by providing immediate screening, assessment, crisis response, care navigation, and facilitated connection to evidence-based treatment through regional CCBHCS. When clinically appropriate, BHAPS may also support individual behavioral health services delivered through telehealth, including intake, medication management, psychiatric consultation, counseling, peer recovery support, and follow-up care. These services will help participants maintain engagement while transitioning to or continuing treatment through their regional ccbhc. Project goals are to: (1) reduce the time between judicial referral, behavioral health assessment, and treatment initiation; (2) increase completion of court-ordered evaluations and participant engagement in evidence-based treatment and recovery supports; and (3) establish proof of concept for a court-facilitated behavioral health access model that is operationally feasible, clinically effective, and financially sustainable. Measurable objectives include reducing referral-to-screening, referral-to-treatment, and referral-to-assessment intervals; increasing evaluation completion, treatment initiation, and treatment retention; improving access to clinically appropriate behavioral health services; and evaluating implementation and participant outcomes to inform future kansas judicial branch investment and sustainability.