FY 2024 behavioral health service expansion - OLE health, DBA communicare+OLE will address the need for additional mental health services and substance use disorder treatment in the service area

The proposed program will increase the number of patients receiving mental health services and the number of patients receiving SUD services, including treatment with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) by reaching people who otherwise might not seek behavioral health care, including the unhoused, and those without health insurance. The organization will utilize integrated behavioral health services, evidence-based services, such as individual and family therapy, case management, street medicine, mobile health, and community partnerships to increase the number of persons served. A focal point of this opportunity is the inclusion of community health workers (CHW) acting as peer support advocates that will be the bridge between the patient, the SUD BH therapist, and the primary care prescriber. This program will address barriers to individuals such as community bias/stigma, lack of affordable programs, and lack of transportation. The bilingual community health workers with lived experience will assist patients in navigating services available in the community, address stigma and facilitate trust for individuals needing behavioral health care, or treatment for drug or alcohol dependence. Another key component of this proposal is the inclusion of BH staff training in emdr for the certification process and use of emdr with clients. Emdr is a non-invasive, evidence-based method of psychotherapy that helps victims recover from the effects of psychological trauma through adaptive information processing. Emdr therapy has been listed as an effective treatment by the american psychiatric association, departments of defense and veterans affairs, and the substance abuse and mental health services. The overall approach of this program will also increase the support given to primary care providers by the inclusion of chws, resulting in the greater integration of BH in primary care, and additional health center primary care providers prescribing medically assisted treatment.