Project Grant H8N54102

FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - PROJECT TITLE: FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES EXPANSION APPLICANT ORGANIZATION NAME: SALUD INTEGRAL EN LA MONTANA, INC. (SIM) FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: HRSA-24-078 ADDRESS: PO BOX 515, NARANJITO, PUERTO RICO 00719 PROJECT DIRECTOR NAME: GLORIA DEL C. AMADOR, DR.PH-HSAM, MHSA CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS (VOICE, FAX): 787-869-5900 EXT.1119/FAX: 787-869-6120 EMAIL ADDRESS: GAMADOR@SIMPR.ORG WEBSITE ADDRESS: WWW.SIMPR.ORG CITY AND STATE OF PROPOSED SERVICE AREA: BARRANQUITAS, BAYAMON, COMERIO, COROZAL, NARANJITO, OROCOVIS AND TOA ALTA (PUERTO RICO) SALUD INTEGRAL EN LA MONTANA, INC. (SIM), IS A NONPROFIT 501C (3) TAX-EXEMPT FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER SINCE 1974 PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTIVE AND PRIMARY HEALTH SERVICES TO THE POPULATION OF BARRANQUITAS, BAYAMON, COMERIO, COROZAL, NARANJITO, OROCOVIS AND TOA ALTA. SIMS ENTIRE SERVICE AREA IS DEEMED BY HRSA AS MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA (MUA) AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SHORTAGE AREA (HPSA). ADDITIONALLY, SIM PROVIDES HRSA FUNDED SERVICES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND MIGRANT AND SEASONAL FARM WORKER SPECIAL POPULATIONS. MORE THAN 72% OF SIM PATIENTS ARE EITHER UNINSURED OR MEDICAID/CHIP BENEFICIARIES, WITH 90% AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY, BEHAVIORAL AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO 67,199 PATIENTS (2023 UDS). IN 2022, SIM CARRIED OUT A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA) AND FOUND INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE SERVICE AREA CONTINUE TO BE IMPACTED BY CHRONIC CONDITIONS, LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, INCREASED POVERTY, LACK OF INCOME, UNEMPLOYMENT, LOW EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, VIOLENCE, AND LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, AMONG OTHER SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS WHICH CONTINUE TO BE BARRIERS TO HEALTH FOR THE POPULATION. THE FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION FUNDS WILL PROVIDE SIM MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WILL ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS OF THE UNDERSERVED OR VULNERA BLE POPULATIONS WHO MAY HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND THE OPENING OF A SUBSTANCE ABUSE CLINIC THAT WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS WITHIN OUR SCOPE SERVICE AREA WHO STRUGGLE WITH THE MISUSE OF SUBSTANCES. THE EXPANSION OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO BETTER MANAGING CHRONIC CONDITIONS, REDUCING EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, ENHANCING OVERALL PATIENT WELL-BEING AND CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED INCLUDES ADULTS, ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS. SIM EXPECT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE PATIENTS THAT RECEIVE SUD SERVICES THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT OF PEER NAVIGATORS AND OUTREACH STAFF THAT WILL RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF SIM'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAM, PROMOTE THE AVAILABILITY OF MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDERS (MOUD), AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY INTERVENTION STRATEGIES.