Thursday, April 3, 2025
4/3/2025
JBCI "CHAMP" - Choctaw Health and Mental Partnership - The proposed Choctaw Health and Mental Partnership (CHAMP) project is an opportunity for the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians (JBCI) to provide an integrated continuum of care. Our goal is to improve primary and mental health care for tribal members and improve their ability to navigate the health care system more effectively, resulting in an improvement in their overall health status. The JBCI residing in our rural community has always been limited in their options regarding mental health services and providers. This limitation, combined with several social determinant barriers, including access to transportation, long distances between health clinics, and limited internet access, has significantly impacted accessing the care they need. The CHAMP project will increase our capacity and the quality of care provided through our JBCI Health Clinic through an evolving program with the flexibility required to address our members’ distinct needs as they arise. We will implement specific measures to increase accessibility, availability, and acceptability for our tribal members through culturally competent, trauma-informed modalities to help reduce the morbidity and mortality outcomes of depression and diabetes among our tribal members. The integration of these services will help identify patients needing behavioral health services through a warm hand-off from the physician to the behavioral health counselor while co-managing in shared decision making. The step-by-step process includes provider reviews of the EHR or paper-based files, screening measures, the introduction of behavioral health providers and services, identification of the problem by the patient, assessment, consultations between PH and BH providers, and the resolution of identified social determinants needs. The CHAMP project will increase collaboration between behavioral health and physical health providers in the JBCI Health Clinic and within the community, explicitly targeting health professionals and partners who provide care to our tribal members. These efforts include expanding personnel to have a full-time equivalent Licensed Behavioral Health Provider with the current physical health team. We will facilitate an open line of communication between our behavioral health and primary care staff by practicing active listening, problem-solving skills, and flexibility. Bridging the gaps between mental and physical health staff will improve patient care, quality of life, and staff teamwork. The future CHAMP project will be a self-sustaining program made possible through the initiation of credentialing and billing for services. This is vital to ensure that the system changes implemented can be maintained. In addition, we will pursue additional funding sources to promote the self-efficacy and sustainability of the mental health programs post the five-year grant term. The program will benefit our tribe via, improved health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and greater accessibility for patients requiring behavioral health care.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).