Wednesday, May 7, 2025
5/7/2025
Improving Access to Behavioral Health for the Underserved of Westchester County - The Guidance Center of Westchester (TGCW) is applying to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC). Our project, Improving Access to Behavioral Health for the Underserved of Westchester County, will serve at risk children and adults in underserved communities of Westchester in need of intensive behavioral health (BH) services. TGCW intends to serve 500 unduplicated individuals in the first year and at least 750 individuals over the lifetime of the project. TGCW seeks to facilitate immediate access to evidence-based, screening, assessment and treatment services for Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and Mamaroneck, for children, veterans, and any high-risk individual with BH needs. By improving timely access to integrated supports and services, TGCW will reduce gaps and disparities between available resources and individual health outcomes. In the Mid-Hudson Region of New York State, 28% of the population are on some type of public health insurance, including 39% of children on Medicaid and 10% with no health insurance coverage. Yonkers (39%), Mount Vernon (37%) and New Rochelle (30%) all exceed county percentages of people with public health insurance, children in poverty (Yonkers: 36%, Mount Vernon: 26% and New Rochelle: 22%; County 12%) and meet or exceed the county percentages for residents with a disability. Critical needs for youth and adults with a mental illness and/or a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) include access to crisis services and access to home and community-based treatment services. With CCBHC funding, TGCW will build on our 77 years serving these communities by: Implementing a 24/7 Access Center for calls, walk-ins and mobile crisis capacity, responding within 1 hour, with a 90% follow up rate; Adding 24/7 Access Center staff (program coordinator, crisis services manager, 24/7 Access counselors, care managers, psychiatry, medical/nursing, therapists, peers, engagement specialist, court liaison and driver) to expand access to intensive, community-based services to those who do not otherwise qualify in the target communities; Implementing DCO partnerships with Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center and Montefiore New Rochelle to expand access to integrated physical health screening; and Implementation of formal agreements to expand Intensive Community-Based Mental Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans, all within 4 months of award.
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).