Project Abstract
Through SAMHSA’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning, Development, & Implementation Grant, Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) will focus on increasing access to mental health treatment for children and youth and expanding intensive care coordination for adults and children in order to effectively address the needs of adults and adolescents with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), and Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) and children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) in the targeted service area.
CCBHC service population includes individuals and families across New Haven and Litchfield County, specifically residing in: Watertown, Waterbury, Middlebury, Goshen, Naugatuck, New Hartford, Winsted, Southbury, Wolcott, Thomaston, Litchfield, Barkhamsted, Torrington, Harwinton, Morris, and Bethlehem. US 2020 Census data shows a target population of 278,401: 219,603 ages 18+; 43,840 ages 6-17; and 14,958 under age 5.
CMHA is an Enhanced Care Clinic (ECC) and provides an array of services to the historically underserved population of adults, children and families in the region. Last year, CMHA served 2,306 consumers in this target area: 531 children in our Outpatient Child Guidance Clinic; 656 youth via ongoing school-based services; 470 adults in Outpatient/Intensive OP; 1,305 families through our home-based programs. More than 10% of our clients are primarily Spanish-speaking, and the number of Portuguese-speaking clients has increased by 400% since 2019. A majority (65%) identify as female, and 1% are transgender/non-binary. The majority are heterosexual (81%), with 12% indicating LGBTQ+. Nearly all (93%) fall at/below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and most (90%) have been affected by trauma.
Agency and community data indicates a need for more Open Access hours; continued services and supports for Veterans/Military; Targeted Case Management (TCM) and intensive care coordination for adults and children; and increased access to treatment for children and youth. Our CCBHC will reduce disparities by enhancing access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services for Black, Hispanic and Spanish speaking women, children, and their families affected by violence, trauma, and poverty.
CCBHC goals include: 1) Support recovery from mental illness and/or SUD among target population adults, children and families through an expansion of Clinic Services and contracted 24/7 Mobile Crisis Services; 2) Reduce behavioral health issues, trauma symptoms, and substance abuse among target population children, adolescents, and adults through wraparound support and community-based services and outreach; 3) Reduce the likelihood of chronic disease and premature death among target population adults and children through CCBHC’s Behavioral Health Home and contracted primary care; 4) Promote wellness and recovery among CCBHC consumers by providing psychiatric rehabilitation, peer and family recovery supports; 5) Equip CCBHC staff with the skills to continue offering evidence-based practices through additional training; 6) Meet CCBHC goals/objectives by creating project management and governance structures.; 8) Implement infrastructure activities and assessments to implement and sustain CCBHC services.
CMHA’s CCBHC will serve a total of 600 individuals over four years.