Compassionate Crisis Care Network - The Compassionate Crisis Care Network provides an alternative peer-designed and peer-led crisis prevention and recovery support program that combines in-person peer recovery support and clinical services provided via telehealth. The program target adults who are at risk for mental and behavioral health crisis or need post-crisis support. The goal of this project is to build the capacity of the Network and expanding its reach to more underserved communities across Virginia.
Statewide data on individuals who received services from the public outpatient behavioral health system in 2023 indicates that the target population is about 47% female and 53% male, and 56% white, 27% black or African American, 2% Asian, 4% more than one race, and 11% other or unknown race. Service recipients also are 61% unemployed, 73% receiving Medicaid, and 14% uninsured. Among adults, mental health services represent the highest need with 36% of individuals served followed by ancillary services (29%), emergency services (16%), substance use services (10%), and developmental disability services (9%). Statewide data on the general public indicates that 11% are Hispanic or Latinx, 17% speak a language other than English at home including 8% who speak Spanish, and 6% are LGBTQ+ including 0.5% who are transgender.
In 2022, the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that the number of individuals with mental illness is increasing, particularly serious mental illness. The primary challenge faced by the public behavioral health system is workforce shortages and they significantly impact individuals who are at-risk for crisis and need immediate access to services. Individuals who are racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, justice involved, homeless, and live in rural communities face additional barriers, including distrust of government and cultural stigma.
The Compassionate Crisis Care Network provides an alternative crisis prevention and post-crisis support program for individuals to who do not want to pursue traditional clinical services. The Network is directed by Strength In Peers, a Recovery Community Organization (RCO), and composed of RCOs and clinical treatment partners. RCOs are independent peer-run organizations and espouse unique values, culture, and practices and provide alternative services to traditional treatment that enhance the overall system of care. They often can engage individuals in recovery services who may otherwise refuse care at other facilities. The Network also provides RCOs Medicaid reimbursement for peer support services through the partnerships with clinical providers.
The project’s objectives are to: 1) develop the Network’s bylaws and a 3-year strategic plan; 2) recruit at least two new RCOs and one new clinical partner to join the Network and train them to implement the Network program; 3) recruit at least four advisory group members to lend input into services, quality, and accessibility; 4) conduct at least 3 presentations to crisis and emergency service providers and develop a webpage to provide education on trauma-informed crisis care, peer-run evidence-based practices, crisis resources, and Network services; 5) conduct an initial and a 12-month follow-up Fidelity Assessment Common Ingredients Tool assessment with each of the Network’s 5 RCOs to identify changes in fidelity to evidence-based peer-run practices after implementing the Network’s program and Medicaid billing; 6) develop a peer-designed curriculum in compassionate crisis response services and train at least 30 CPPRs; 7) develop a peer-designed curriculum in whole health integrated models of care and train at least 30 CPRSs; 8) develop recommendations for how Virginia can better align Medicaid regulations and other state funding to support peer-run evidence-based practices; and 9) provide training to at least 25 CPRSs on how to adhere to peer-run evidence-based practices while billing Medicaid or working for a clinical facility.
