Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
Gulf Coast Center (GCC) proposes to utilize funding to support and restore the delivery of clinical services that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, it will also assist to reduce several of the behavioral health gaps in treatment identified by CMHC’s through their respective Needs Assessments conducted throughout the state, and compiled by HHSC with designation and publication of the fifteen most critical statewide gaps in behavioral health services, as follows: Access to behavioral health services, Behavioral health needs of school students, Coordination across state agencies, Veterans and military service member supports, Continuity of care for individuals exiting county and local jails, Access to timely treatment services, Implementation of evidence-based practices, Use of peer services, Behavioral health services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Consumer transportation and access to treatment, Prevention and early intervention services, Access to housing, Behavioral health workforce shortages, Shared and usable data and Services for special populations. These gaps in treatment have been markedly exacerbated resultant of the pandemic. Research has suggested there is evidence that stress imposed by the occurrence of COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental health statuses of individuals with pre-existing SMI who reside in the community. The findings have also indicated that the incidence of stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia have been greater among the SMI population, than for the general population. Another study, focusing on the effects of COVID-19, reported relatively high rates of symptoms of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, and stress among the general population that, in many cases, would meet the threshold for clinical relevance, thereby increasing the need for mental health services in the community – often in communities which, not unlike GCC’s service area, are already overburdened and designated as Medically Underserved Areas and/or Health Provider Shortage Areas.GCC is requesting total funds in the amount of $3,364,997.74 for the two-year period, and will serve 400 unduplicated individuals for each of the two years of the grant duration. GCC’s goals are to restore its behavioral health services access to its pre-COVID status; to increase the effectiveness of GCC’s Zero Suicide initiative to improve consumer safety during the ongoing impact of COVID-19, by implementing an evidence-based practice supplementary to Zero Suicide; and to further improve consumer safety during the impact of COVID-19 by implementing a Level 1 Ambulatory Detox Clinic. The most salient treatment gaps addressed through these strategies are Access to Appropriate Behavioral Health Services, Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices, Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages, and Services for Special Populations.
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).
