Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
Highland Rivers CSB dba Highland Rivers Health Community Mental Health Center - Highland Rivers CSB, d.b.a. Highland Rivers Health (HRH), will expand access to critical treatment and recovery services with special emphasis on populations with SMI, SED and COD who are uninsured and underinsured within our 12-county northwest Georgia service area. Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, systems within these counties were under immense stress that often restricted their ability to function effectively. The proposed project will support the acute need for clinical mental health and substance use treatment, support and recovery services resulting from the pandemic, and restore and enhance the delivery of these services to those who were being served prior to March 2020. Implementation will prioritize developing and providing resources to address service fatigue and mental health needs of CMHC staff; providing access to early intervention and treatment for students and teachers by expanding our school-based mental health program (APEX) into Murray County; and, reducing the reliance on higher-end crisis services and hospitalization for individuals with SMI, SED and COD through expansion of our highly successful ED diversion partnerships. Highland Rivers Health will employ Engagement Specialists to work with staff and community partners to ensure more than 35,000 contacts or touch points during the two-year period. Based on individual needs, Referral Specialists will process 2,800 direct referrals into Highland Rivers’ services – outpatient, veterans, residential, child and adolescent, substance use and others – ensuring individuals are served in their community or linked to partners, so each may receive the right services, from the right providers at the right time. In addition, SOAR and Employment Specialists will serve as advocates to support referred individuals and help them to navigate services, apply for benefits and find employment. Concurrently, our school-based mental health program will expand into a community with heightened demand due to the pandemic, serving more than 300 new students during the grant period. Finally, through the expansion of our ED diversion partnerships, 2,600 individuals will be assessed when presenting with BH needs; a historical diversion rate of 45% indicates more than 1,000 individuals will be linked with services most appropriate to their needs. Ultimately, through these initiatives, 4,500 people will benefit directly from this grant program. Equally and vitally important, this grant will afford Highland Rivers Health the opportunity to provide resources and direct access to care for our front-line CMHC team members who have been putting themselves at risk for COVID-19 in order to ensure their needs are being met when they are ready to begin their own recovery journeys.
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).