Project Summary: Rutgers University Behavioral HealthCare will continue its Certified Community Behavioral Health Care Clinic in the Greater Newark, NJ area. Promoting access to high quality community-based mental health, substance use and co-occurring disorders services, utilizing evidenced based treatments and best practices, advancing the integration of behavioral & physical health care.
Population Served: Adults with serious mental illness; substance use disorders, opioid disorders; co-occurring issues and children/adolescents with serious emotional disturbance; living in the greater Newark, NJ area. 12.2% of Essex county residents are uninsured, with 16.8% of the Newark City uninsured. Newark residents are exposed to violent crime at a rate more than double the county average. The poverty rate in Newark is 28.3% compared to 10.7% in NJ. These life situation increase stress, anxiety and negatively impact health outcomes. Since the CCBHC grant began in 2018, we have been treating the entire person through integrated care; connecting close to 300 individual to medical insurance, 4000 to individual, group and family therapy and provided case manager services to over 3,000. While we have made great strides toward improving social determinants and quality of life for Essex county residents, there remains a significant gap. With comprehensive assessments, initial and ongoing screenings for suicide, depression, PTSD, loneliness, and immediate access to services we will serve 2000 in year one and 3500 for the length of the grant. We will used EBT’s, such as Motivation Interviewing (MI) and Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) as therapeutic interventions. In addition CM services, peer support services, health screening, including HIV, Hep A,B,C, A1C, access to psychotropic meds, Medication Assisted Treatment and assistance with transportation will be provided.
Project Goals: Goal 1: Increase access to primary and preventive care services. Objectives: 90% of all eligible uninsured individuals served will be registered for Medicaid; 90% of all individuals served will receive a health screening; 90% of individuals served will meet with a CM -assess needs & provide linkages; 90% of individuals without a PCP will have an initial appointment and supported by CM to attend.
Goal 2: Increase provider capacity in ambulatory care to provide medication management and EBP to reduce the need for crisis and inpatient services. 90% same day/next day appointment; 90% follow up within 10 days; Psychiatric Assessment within 10 days of intake; using EBT to increase functioning and decrease hospitalization
Goal 3: Decrease substance use in the community by implementing evidence-based programs within the CCBHC that address behaviors that may lead to the initiation of use. Objectives: Increase access to SA services and medication; SA screening with 1st appointment follow up within 10 days; MAT services, peer support services
Goal 4: Increase access for children and adolescents to screening assessment and treatment .Objectives: 90% same day/next day appointment; 90% follow up within 10 days; Utilize CM for outreach to engage the families; Further increase program hours via extended evening hours.