Rural health network development planning grant program - working together kentucky: mental healthcare for autistic adults (WTK) aims to expand access to specialized mental health services for…

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration awarded Western Kentucky University $198,930 on July 1, 2026, under the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program (CFDA 93.912) to conduct a one-year planning initiative expanding access to specialized mental health services for autistic adults in southcentral and western Kentucky.

The project, Working Together Kentucky: Mental Healthcare for Autistic Adults (WTK), will conduct a community landscape analysis to identify existing mental healthcare services and gaps for autistic adults in the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) and Pennyrile Area Development District (PADD) regions. WTK will establish and maintain a community planning network comprising mental healthcare provider leaders from partner organizations LifeSkills, Inc. and Bluegrass Professional Counseling, alongside autistic adults and family members serving in an advisory capacity. The network will convene to collect information on mental healthcare needs from both clinical and lived-experience perspectives, ultimately developing an action plan for addressing identified gaps. Anticipated outcomes include increased practitioner awareness of mental health needs specific to autistic adults and strengthened local capacity for coordinated care delivery.

Western Kentucky University's Clinical Education Complex and Institute for Rural Health will serve as the administrative and clinical lead. Performance occurs in Kentucky, with the grant period running through June 30, 2027. The award is classified as a Project Grant.

Rural health network development planning grant program - working together kentucky: mental healthcare for autistic adults (WTK) aims to expand access to specialized mental health services for autistic adults residing in southcentral and western kentucky and will consist of a network of partners including western kentucky university's (WKU's) clinical education complex (CEC) and institute for rural health (IRH), lifeskills, INC., and bluegrass professional counseling (BPC). In the course of this one-year program, WTK will address legislative aim 1 by conducting a community landscape analysis to identify the existing services for mental healthcare needs of autistic adults in the barren river area development district (bradd) and pennyrile area development district (padd) regions of kentucky. WTK will also create a network of mental healthcare professionals to better understand these needs from the provider perspective, with the inclusion of autistic adults and family members who will serve in an advisory capacity. The project goal is to achieve efficiencies by bringing together a network of mental health providers and identifying existing services and areas of need. The key approach is to 1) identify mental healthcare provider leaders from the community planning network partners (lifeskills and BPC) who will provide input from their clinical experiences on the needs of autistic adults in the bradd and padd regions; 2) include the perspective of autistic adults and family members who will serve on an advisory board; 3) convene the community planning network partner leaders to collect information on the mental healthcare needs of autistic adults; and 4) conduct a community landscape analysis. Objectives are: 1) establish and maintain a community planning network; 2) conduct a community landscape analysis; and 3) develop an action plan for addressing the mental health needs of autistic adults. Anticipated outcomes include 1) more practitioners aware of mental health needs of autistic adults in the community, 2) more autistic adults included in the decision-making process, and 3) a streamlined approach to addressing gaps and redundancies. Expected products are: 1) a community landscape analysis report, 2) a dissemination plan for the landscape analysis report; and 3) an action plan based on the results of the community landscape analysis. The individuals involved in this community planning network are well-positioned to carry out this program bringing a capacity to serve rural underserved populations through participation in past consortiums, organizational expertise and capacity, and experience with similar work. WKU's IRH addresses healthcare challenges in rural communities through education, research, and service. WKU's CEC has provided services to autistic individuals since 2006 and has led many initiatives that have brought funding, scholarships, training, and advocacy programs to the bradd region. Lifeskills and BPC have provided decades of award-winning leadership in program development, training, and support for mental healthcare needs in the WTK service area. Funding preferences (see attachment 8) 1: WTK qualifies for the health professional shortage area (hpsa) funding preference because the organization is located in a designated hpsa for mental health. 2: WTK qualifies for medically underserved community/population the organization is located in a designated hpsa for the medically underserved area (MUA/p). 3: WTK qualifies for focus primary care and wellness and prevention strategies because mental health is closely linked to physical health. Counseling offers tools to improve overall health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by preventing serious conditions. IT aligns with the broader goals of primary care and wellness by promoting sustainable, long-term health.