Milwaukee Center for Independence Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Improvement and Advancement Project (MCFI-CCBHC-IA) - The Milwaukee Center for Independence (MCFI)proposed Whole Health CCBHC-IA project will improve and advance its to serve all CCBHC populations of focus (PoFs), i.e., all individuals across the lifespan in need of behavioral health (BH) services in Milwaukee County (MC) with SMI, SUD, COD, and children/youth with SED. MCFI will focus on expanding its capacity to address BH disparities (BHDs) in school-age children and adolescents with SED, and LGBTQI+, particularly those with SMI. Almost half (49.0%) of current CCBHC clients are African American (AA). This is disproportionate compared to AA’s 27.6% representation in the general MC population, but consistent with the prevalence of BHDs (as they intersect with social drivers of health, SDOH) among them, so MCFI will continue to prioritize services to them. Almost all those served by MCFI are low-income. Of major service gaps to be addressed by MCFI include that, per its most recent community needs assessment, that though culturally competent treatment is available for LGBTQI+, what is lacking is LGBTQI+ -specific treatment for those with SMI. MCFI has for decades been the region’s primary provider of services for SMI. MCFI will develop capacity to serve LGBTQI+ with SMI by training its staff (by partner LGBT Community Center of Milwaukee) on working with LGBTQI+. The project will also address the community’s significant need to MCFI will address the need for treatment services for children and adolescents with SED. Children’s Wisconsin (CW), the largest healthcare system in the state serving children, has an average waiting list of 9 months. CW has agreed to refer children and families from its waiting list to MCFI’s new Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic. MCFI’s child/adolescent therapists will be trained in the EBP Trauma-Focused CBT to serve this population. Serving as DCOs will be Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services, which will provide crisis mental health services; the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, which will accept referrals of veterans for treatment; and 3) NAMI, which will offer programming to families of participants by NAMI-trained family member peers. Project goals are: 1) Expand and enhance access to behavioral health (BH) services for all CCBHC PoFs; 2) Improve/enhance MCFI’s ability to address clinical treatment needs of all CCBHC PoFs across the lifespan; 3) Design & implement a consistent comprehensive screening, assessment, and treatment planning protocol; 4Enhance care coordination/ integration across the spectrum of health services (BH, physical health, & SDOH); and 5) Participants will experience improvement in their mental health and well-being.
