FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - AHS family health center's grant proposal seeks to expand behavioral health capacity within the integrated care model that includes primary care,…

FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - AHS family health center's grant proposal seeks to expand behavioral health capacity within the integrated care model that includes primary care, dental, and behavioral health all under one roof. If awarded, two-year funding will help US 1) increase the number of patients receiving mental health services; and 2) increase the number of patients receiving substance use disorder (SUD) services including referrals to our SUD partners for treatment and recovery. The need for expanded integrated behavioral health (IBH) services is clear. Hrsa 3-year trend report data indicates an 83% increase from 2020 to 2022 in number of unduplicated patients using ahsfhc BH services. Within the IBH model we will address substance use disorders as well as other mental health issues faced by patients. Our proposed expansion includes increasing referrals to our partners for complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders as well as providing patient education in our clinics. Expanding access by increasing BH staffing in the primary care setting will ultimately improve health equity and reduce health disparities. Demand for behavioral health and psychiatry services is enormous at ahsfhc and the wait time to see a psychiatrist is four weeks. Currently, we have .7 FTE psychiatrist and 1.7 FTE licensed mental health providers. If awarded, we will add more counselors & psychiatrist time and also ensure we have a robust integrated behavioral health team in place to always provide mental health coverage to our patients. Grant funding will in part contribute to salaries of new full-time licensed mental health provider, a part time psychiatrist, and additional case management and support staff. With these hires, ahsfhc will have 1 FTE psychiatry and 3 FTE licensed mental health provider. By the end of the grant period, we anticipate increasing capacity to serve approximately 650 in the first year of funding, and 750 by the end of the project period. Ahsfhc behavio RAL health program acknowledges the multifaceted barriers faced by our target population, including stigma, limited prior access to preventive care, and the lack of accessible, culturally, and linguistically competent providers within our communities. Further, the integrated care model helps address unmet social determinants of health, such as transportation and childcare coverage, on healthcare access and outcomes. The target population faces serious gaps in service and often has higher rates of chronic illnesses and health disparities due to barriers to quality preventive healthcare. Behavioral health services are also severely lacking in the service area: illinois dept. Of human services estimated that in 2022 over 4.8 million illinois residents lived in a mental health hpsa (the entire ahsfhc service area is a hpsa for mental health) and illinois has 13.8 BH providers for every 10,000 residents, not to mention a shortage of providers who speak the language of the target population. The target population also lacks access to providers who accept medicaid or the uninsured. Further, in 2019 only 7% of asian adults aged 18 and over received mental health services in the prior 12 months compared to 19.8% non-hispanic whites. Through this grant we seek to expand our behavioral health infrastructure within integrated care settings to increase the number of patients using BH services and continue to refer patients needing SUD / moud treatments to our referral partners including at thorek memorial hospital. Our overarching goal is to create a healthcare environment that is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the diverse needs of all individuals, thereby advancing health equity and promoting wellness for all.