Wednesday, May 14, 2025
5/14/2025
Berrien Mental Health Authority Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic - Berrien Mental Health Authority dba Riverwood Center (RWC) CCBHC Improvement and Advancement Project proposes to expand its services to residents who experience or are at risk of developing severe mental illness, severe emotional disturbance and/or substance use disorders. In addition to these populations of focus, RWC intends to expand current services offered to the mild and moderate mentally ill population. Project aims include enhancing our comprehensive healthcare approach through improving coordination with local primary care providers; expanding access and engagement to our array of substance use services; increasing trauma-informed treatment practices; and implementing new evidenced-based practices (EBP) to improve care for those who experience an acute behavioral health (BH) crisis. This grant will aim to serve 460 individuals in year one, 210 in year two, 230 in year three and 250 in year four, for a total of 1,150 Berrien County residents over the next four years, with additional broad community impacts. Berrien County’s population is 80% White, 14% Black/African American, 2% Asian, 1% American Indian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander. 3% of residents are of two or more races and 6% are Hispanic/Latino. English is the predominant language spoken. 22% of the county population is under 18, and 21% are over 65 years of age. 51% of county residents are female and 49% are male; 17% of middle schoolers and 19% of high schoolers in Berrien County identify as LGBTQ2 and 0.4% of people in Berrien County live with a same sex partner3. There are approximately 8,400 veterans in Berrien County1. RWC service population mirrors this demographic make-up, though serves a higher percentage of consumers identified as Black/African American (28%). RWC currently serves approximately 4,800 consumers annually; many of these consumers suffer from preventable and/or treatable medical conditions such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, and infectious diseases. As an expansion of current efforts, RWC consumers will receive increased screening and, when warranted, intervention and monitoring of a broad range of health risk behaviors and conditions. Integral to this effort will be improving the exchange of health information (HIE) among community providers, as evidenced by communication with external providers and an improvement to post-ER follow-up. RWC will leverage grant funds to expand and improve services to individuals who experience acute BH conditions via a multipronged approach, including: increased screening and treatment for RWC consumers with substance use disorders, increased coordination with local hospitals through enhanced Health Information Exchange, and enhanced evidence-based trauma-informed treatment practices. Expanding access and increasing engagement rates are additional key population health issues that will be addressed by targeting the increasing rates of suicide and substance use (including opioid use). Increasing screening and treatment for individuals with SUD will be targeted and measured through the use of standardized screening for IDDT, tracking referrals and engagement in MAT services, and consistent screening for unhealthy alcohol using the AUDIT.
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).