FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - substance use disorders are among the most long standing and complex concerns, devastating the entirety of west virginia

One facet of suds that has posed a challenge is growing and maintaining a healthcare workforce with capacity to effectively implement evidence-based treatment and support for persons suffering from SUD and the community at large that absorbs the crushing results of long term misinformation and stigmatization of the topic entirely. Monongahela valley association of health centers, INC (MVA) intends to use its placement as a community health center to combat this particular element through providing primary care services, behavioral health services, and community resources in an effort to meet the needs of individuals with suds, individuals in high-risk situations to develop suds, and the community's recovery from the distress of an opioid epidemic. Our aim is to utilize our current physical locations and telehealth procedures, serving six counties in north central west virginia, to increase access to behavioral health services and implement a program for eligible individuals to receive treatment for SUD/OUD that has potential to include medication assisted treatment options. All MVA staff will receive training to best serve persons with SUD with respect afforded to all patients and without stigma. Key staff that will be directly involved in providing patient care and consistent communication will receive additional training annually to ensure best practices are followed and implemented regularly. Expansion of current facility hours may be necessary to gather new patients and dedicate staff time and resources to implementation of this program, and MVA is prepared to offer set evening and/or weekend accessibility to best meet the needs of clientele. To this end, MVA seeks an additional therapist and dedicated case manager to serve this program and patient population. The final component of this effort will be to ENG age our patients, stakeholders, and community in campaigns targeted to destigmatize substance use disorders, encourage seeking treatments and support, and reinforce prevention efforts through evidence-based best practices. This new program in our area will dramatically increase access to treatment and therapeutic services that integrate seamlessly with current primary care systems that MVA consistently maintains.