The expansion grant funds Centers for Youth and Families (TC) to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to advance primary-behavioral health integration and use evidence-based practices to increase services to 550 individuals (0+) in Pulaski County Arkansas with complex physical/behavioral health disorders, including opioid disorders. Pulaski County is inundated with racially segregated, underserved communities both physically and medically.
The majority of the geographic area is considered metropolitan with urbanization concentrated in the capital city of Little Rock. Pulaski County is a HRSA-designated Medically Underserved Area and Health Professional Shortage Area in the primary health and behavioral health domains. Pulaski County has the highest rate of mental health clients served through the Arkansas State Hospital (ASH) and CMHCs indicating that individuals are in acute crisis before accessing care. Among clients hospitalized with ASH or CSU, 20% fail to keep their 7-day post-acute hospitalization appointment. Not only is care made less accessible by the physical landscape of Pulaski County (some clients change busses 6 times roundtrip), but others refuse care because of inherent distrust in the current health care system. The target population is comprised of the following individuals in all of Pulaski County (as opposed to the current area of Southern Pulaski County): children (0+) with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) and persons of all ages who have or are at risk for: 1) Serious Mental Illness (SMI), 2) Substance Use Disorders (SUD), including opioid disorders, 3) Co-occurring mental health and SUD (COD). The catchment area is approximately 53% white, 37% Black, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, and <1% Native American. Ultimately, the target population will consist of the following groups: On-campus clients, Mobile unit clients, ACT clients, ASH and CSU clients, and clients with SUD and COD living in the catchment area.
TC will become a CCBHC to advance primary care and behavioral health integration and use evidence-based practices (EBPs) to increase services to 550 unduplicated additional people of all ages in the target population (Y1: 150; Y2: 400). TC will increase treatment quality and capacity to the target population through the: (1) Certification of TC as a CCBHC (first 4 months of Y1), (2) Partner with GAIN, Inc ACT Team to provide crisis and immediate care in all of Pulaski County (Y1,Y2), (3) Increase self-management of co-occurring conditions for persons with SMI, COD, SUD, or SED and other chronic through the acquisition (Y1) and deployment (Y1, Y2) of the mobile behavioral health unit and team, (4) Physical enhancement of the campus location in Southern Pulaski County (Y1) and implementation of on-site integrated care for physical and behavioral health risks and needs (Y1,Y2), (5) Integrative care and EBP training (Y1,Y2) for all personnel involved in the treatment and care of the target population.