Branch County Community Mental Health Authority, DBA Pines Behavioral Health (PBH) proposes a two year funding to implement the "Branch County Restoring Mental Wellness" project to meet the gaps and unmet needs of Branch County residents with a serious mental illness (SMI), Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), and Co-Occurring MH/SUD Disorder (COD) who have been impacted by Covid-19. Priority gaps include staffing to addressed the increased use in COD, increased need for crisis intervention, the need for evidence based prevention and treatment models, increased psychiatric care, and self-care/resiliency training for employees. PBH intends to expand, enhance, and reduce significant gaps through best practice protocols and treatments to all residents with an SMI, SED, and COD condition.
Branch County has a population of 43,417 and a demographic profile of 90.4% Caucasian, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 2.3% African American, 1.2% two or more races,.4% Asian, and .4% Native American. In regards to gender, 52.7% identify as male and 47.3% identify as female. The increase in service request since the start of the pandemic has exceeded the capacity of staff in the county's only public mental health system, and has resulted in increased crisis, inpatient hospitalization, and court ordered treatment.
PBH will provide enhanced SMI/SED/COD services to persons in the county anticipating the following: 400 individuals served in year one, 400 individuals served in year two, and 800 unduplicated individuals over the 2-year project. In addition, support for staff will be provided through trainings on resiliency and self-care. Strategies/Interventions include increasing the capacity of staff to meet the increased needs, improved competency in the use of evidence based treatment and strengthened crisis response, and partnering with law enforcement and schools in providing specialized services and supports. PBH intends to achieve the following goals upon receipt of SAMHSA CMHC funding: Goal 1: Increase the capacity of well-trained staff to deliver SMI/SED/COD treatment to Branch County residents. Objectives: Expand staff capacity and provide training to staff for a healthy workforce. Goal 2: Deliver effective evidence based practices to the SMI/SED/COD population impacted by the pandemic. Objectives: Train on, and monitor the effectiveness of increased evidence based interventions. Goal 3: Increase the capacity to respond to crisis intervention, stabilization, and diversion from inpatient/incarceration. Objectives: Increase service capacity across the agency, in the community, and in the child's home and learning environment.