Friday, April 25, 2025
4/25/2025
Bridge ProjectPD: Cassie Damato, Director of Crisis Stabilization Unit - SummitStone Health Partners (SHP), a duly licensed, 501(c)3 community mental health center serving Larimer County, Colorado, proposes the Bridge Project to mitigate the impact of COVID 19. The project will serve 600 under- and uninsured clients with SED, SMI, and COD over two years through in-person and telehealth services, expand fully integrated SUD and mental health treatment including medication assisted treatment, and close the county's treatment gap by 22%. The populating focus is adults aged 18 and over with SED/SMI/COD who are under- or uninsured. About 20% identify as Latinx/Hispanic, nearly 3% as Native American, 2.5% as Black, and about 2% as Asian/Pacific Islander. Nearly all (85%) report living at 300% of the federal poverty level at admission. About 20% live in rural areas. Over the two-year funding period, the following goals will be achieved to reduce the treatment gap by 22%: 1) Restore and expand SHP's clinical services to provide accessible, equitable treatment to 600 under- and uninsured clients with SMI/SED/COD; 2) Enhance equitable client access and treatment through targeted outreach strategies and expedited referral pathways; and 3) Restore and expand SHP's operations and infrastructure to ensure equitable client care and organizational resiliency. The Bridge Project will provide financial and community-based health navigation to support enrollment in health insurance options and access to and retention in care, recovery support services (RSS), case management, intensive/enhanced outpatient treatment (IOP/EOP), rapid access to medication assisted treatment (MAT), and outpatient withdrawal management (WM). Clients may access services through three pathways, including SHP's behavioral health urgent care available for walk-ins 12 hours a day, 7 days a week; SHP's access center via phone or walk-in for same day or next day access; or through community-based health navigators embedded in organizations that serve high-risk individuals. Evidence-based practices including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment, MAT if indicated, and person-centered treatment philosophy and delivered by integrated care teams made up of community navigator, care manager, therapist, peer specialist, MAT prescriber if appropriate, and psychiatrist. To support equitable client care, staff-specific training on behavioral health disparities will be provided across both years to both clinical and administrative staff. Staff well-being will be supported through organizational improvements including increased EHR efficiencies. Key outcomes include number of clients served; access, retention, and engagement rates improved by 25%; 85% of clients reporting decreased SUD/MHD symptoms; and improved psychosocial functioning including 30% improvement in social connectedness and 50% reduction in staff burnout and compassion fatigue. The evaluation will examine the extent to which race, ethnicity, or other historically excluded identities predict outcomes in order to measure improved equity in services.
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).