Growing a Community of Care Initiative - Through this grant, Valle del Sol, Inc. (VdS), a Federally Qualified Health Center, will implement the Growing a Community of Care Initiative that will immediately enhance its existing integrated, community-based services to provide individuals with access to 24/7 care, including contracted assertive community treatment and contracted state sanctioned crisis management services to vulnerable populations in Maricopa County, Arizona. Population to be served: Individuals and families with serious mental illness (SMI); Substance Use Disorders (SUD), including opioid use disorders; children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED); individuals with co-occurring physical, mental and SUDs conditions (COD); and specific programs will be added for veterans or active military. A specific emphasis will focus on the following subpopulations: Hispanic patients, uninsured and underinsured individuals, and individuals with COD. Based on available health data for the area, one of the largest problems facing the four million Maricopa County residents, especially the uninsured and underinsured, is a lack of access to care. The County has 12 Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) and 3 Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs), 45 primary medical care (PCP) Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and 39 mental health HPSAs, including in VdS’ service area. The impact of these HPSAs on care, especially behavioral health, SUD, and COD services, is profound as care is delayed weeks/months and patients spend hours in emergency departments. Moreover, the PCP shortage means that many residents in the County do not have access to a referral source for behavioral health and SUD services. In the last 12 months, VdS served 10,000 unique patients and proposes to serve an additional 2,500 total unique patients (Year one: 1,000, Year Two: 1,500) through this initiative. By August 2022, VdS will grow by 25% and will provide 12,500 unique patients with services. Strategies/Interventions: Across the 2 year project, VdS will add 35 staff who will expand 24/7 access to care, unite staff in evidence based practices, and accelerate technology improvements including new MAT equipment for expanded dosing hours and community-based telemedicine. The goals for this initiative, include: 1) Raising VdS’ standard of care by achieving 100% of certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) standards and obtaining CCBHC certification within 4 months of grant award; 2) Expanding VdS’ capacity to provide continuous access to health services in Maricopa County, Arizona, including 24/7 intervention services for people with serious mental illness or SUD; children and adolescents with SED and individuals with COD; 3) Increasing Valle del Sol’s capacity to effectively treat patients by providing expanded/updated training in evidence based practices & Integrated Care Coordination as well as improved model fidelity: Expanding access to care at Valle del Sol through the use of new technology including, new MAT equipment; an ASAM Continuum screening tool; mobile applications; and expanded telemedicine; and 4) Restructure payment models to sustain CCBHC models and expanded service delivery.
