Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
Clermont County - ACT - Abstract: Clermont County Assertive Community Treatment Project (CC-ACT) The Clermont County Assertive Community Treatment Project (CC-ACT) is a collaboration between Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCB), a comprehensive behavioral health agency, and community partners in Clermont County, OH (CC-OH). The Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services and the Department of Medicaid identified ACT as a critical practice for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) and encouraged state-wide adoption. ACT is currently not available in CC-OH, an Appalachian county located east of Cincinnati, despite extensive need. GCB is the only behavioral health provider for adults with SMI in CC-OH. 11% of GCB’s existing care management clients would be ACT-eligible if services were available. 2017 GCB data show these clients have greater psychiatric risk and service need: 21% are at risk for suicide, 9% are at risk for violence, 22% had 2+ inpatient psychiatric hospital admissions, and 14% were incarcerated. GCB has delivered ACT in adjacent Hamilton County since 2000 and operates 6 ACT teams. It has the experience and capacity to replicate the program in CC-OH and integrate these services into the county’s behavioral health system. GCB knows start-up funding is critical to establishing, implementing, and monitoring new teams. Therefore, GCB seeks funding to establish and maintain an ACT team at its CC-OH site to expand access to this service level and improve outcomes. CC-ACT will serve 100 persons over the 5-year grant. Enrollment will occur during the first two years – 40 enrolled in year 1 and 60 in year 2. Years 3-5 will focus on service provision to all 100 clients. CC-ACT will: Goal 1: Increase access to ACT in CC-OH to improve outcomes for persons with SMI. Grant objectives under this goal focus on the installation drivers that support successful adoption, including establish an Advisory Group, prepare space for implementation, hire/train staff, finalize protocols, provide ACT education, and identify clients. Goal 2: Sustain ACT in CC-OH to maintain a comprehensive behavioral health system for persons with SMI. Sustainability objectives include annual external fidelity reviews, benefits enrollment for uninsured clients, state certification to bill for ACT, contracts with OH managed care plans, and EHR modifications to support ACT service delivery and billing. Key evidence-based practices include: ACT, Housing First, Motivational Interviewing, Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, Individual Placement and Support – Supported Employment, and Family Psychoeducation. CC-ACT’s population of focus is 92% White and includes more men (57%) than women. Average age is 43. Most identify as heterosexual (91%). 16% are uninsured. GCB is poised to impact an underserved county and population. It has the experience, capacity, and partnerships to successfully establish and maintain an ACT team in CC-OH that will build a complete continuum of care and provide persons with SMI access to the level of care needed to improve behavioral health outcomes, reduce service utilization, and promote recovery.
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).