The CCBHC Expansion Services in NE Indiana project will be delivered in eight counties in northeastern Indiana, serving a total population of 686,377. With four MUAs and 24 HPSAs located in the target area, there are only 160 mental health providers for every 100,000 of population. The overall goal of the proposed project is to increase the number of individuals in the targeted region who receive mental health services and supports, including mobile crisis intervention. Many of the required CCBHC services are already being provided by Park Center and Parkview using a hub and spoke model. Park Center in Fort Wayne, Allen County serves as the “hub” with many services provided via telehealth to the “spokes” in DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Wabash, and Whitley counties.
Indiana’s suicide rate has been on a steep upward trend, increasing from 13.5 suicide deaths per 100,000 in 2012 to 16.6 in 2019. This is higher than the national increase (12.4 to 14.5) during the same period (CDC). Further, Indiana has a higher suicide rate in all racial/ethnic categories and age groups than the nation as a whole, except for those over 65 years of age.
In terms of substance abuse issues, Indiana has the seventh biggest drug problem in the United States. Drug-related deaths rose from just over four per 100,000 in 1999 to 29.4 in 2017 (as compared to the national increase from five to 21.7 per 1000,000 in the same time period). Furthermore, the rate of increase in Indiana has been significantly greater in recent years, increasing 22.5% from 2016 to 2017 (NIH, Indiana Opioid Summary).
The objectives of the project are to: (1) reduce PHQ9 scores of patients served by 20% over six months, (2) extend services to crisis mental health care to 24/7 within four months, (3) increase mental health treatment and support service referrals for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorders (SUD), children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED), and individuals with co-occurring mental and substance disorders (COD); (4) reduce number of EMS runs for opiate overdose, (5) reduce deaths from overdose, and (5) increase the number of pregnant women with substance use disorders (SUD) who receive navigation services.
These objectives will be achieved by expanding the current array of mental health and substance abuse services, including; screening, assessment and diagnosis; patient-centered treatment planning; provision of psychotropic medication and supports; 0utpatient primary care screening and monitoring; case management; psychiatric rehabilitation; social supports; community recovery supports; Assertive Community Treatment; cooperative relationships with judicial officials/court systems; tobacco and vaping cessation programs; vocational and education counseling; and, support housing. In addition, the program will implement 24/7/365 mobile crisis intervention services.