FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - brief description of the proposed project: improving & expanding behavioral health and substance use services in rural northern arizona needs to be…

FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - brief description of the proposed project: improving & expanding behavioral health and substance use services in rural northern arizona needs to be addressed: the project will improve delivery and expand access to behavioral health services in rural northern arizona at creek valley health clinic, a federally qualified health center (fqhc). Currently, the local community experiences a number of barriers to receive services including geographical isolation, shortage of licensed behavioral therapists, high uninsured and poverty rates, low educational attainment, transportation barriers, and cultural stigma and historical discrimination when accessing behavioral health services. This program aims to 1.) reduce barriers to receive treatment; 2.) improve workforce in the rural community; 3.) increase the number of residents who have access to behavioral health and substance use services; and 4.) implement medication for opioid use disorder (moud) services at creek valley health clinic. Proposed services: 1.) behavioral health (cognitive behavioral therapy, integrated behavioral health, screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment, motivational interviewing, and related modalities); 2.) substance use services (medication assisted treatment, medication for opioid use disorder, psychiatry, and related services); and 3.) community services such as mental health first aid and trauma informed care training. Population group(s) to be served: this program aims to serve colorado city (AZ) and the surrounding northern mohave county (AZ) region, which includes the 33-mile geographic region often called the 'northern arizona strip. This is a rural, isolated, underserved area of arizona that is separated from most of the county and state by the grand canyon. Nearest cities/hospitals in arizona to this service area include page (110 miles from the service area), flagstaff (225 miles from service area), and kingman (265 miles from service area). Health center program grant number: H8033638 increased number of patients receiving mental health services: 150 in the first year of the program, which is an increase of 17% from 2023 data. Increased number of patients receiving substance use services: 25 in the first year of the program*. *note: program will implement newly integrated 'medication for opioid use disorder' (moud), which is a service not currently offered to the rural community