Saturday, April 5, 2025
4/5/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Project Title: Behavioral Health Service Expansion Grant (HRSA-24-078). Applicant: Friend Family Health Center, Inc (Friend Health/FH). Grant #: H80CS00120. Address: 800 E. 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615-4906. Project Director: Verneda Bachus, CEO. Email: vbachus@friendhealth.org PH: 773-702-2193 FX: 773-702-4356. Website: www.friendfhc.org. Congressional Districts: Districts IL-001, 003, 004 & 007. Pts by 12/31/25: SUD/MAT - 236; BH – 146. Funding Request: Yr1 - $600,000; Yr2 - $500,000. NKL8CX8CHTK7. FH, a PCMH certified, 330-funded FQHC works closely with community leaders on Chicago’s South Side to evaluate & respond to the health care needs of vulnerable populations, & is an integral component of the health delivery system & social safety net. FH provides a seamless care continuum that has improved the health status of its patients & works closely with HRDI, a community MH/BH provider, to meet the MH/BH/SUD needs of its patients & the larger community. In 2023, FH served over 40,500 individuals & provided nearly 109,700 medical, dental, MH/BH & enabling visits. FH’s primary focus is treating medically vulnerable people living under 200% FPG, who are either uninsured, underinsured or have public insurance. This demographic is reflected in FH’s current users, of which 91% live below 200% FPG, 10% are uninsured & 72% are insured through Medicaid. FH’s Board continually evaluates the health needs & barriers to care in the community & expands its service delivery capacity as needed by adding programs, services & providers that address community needs. Through these efforts, FH has identified a need to develop a comprehensive program to address both BH & SUD/MAR needs in the service area. Chicago’s South Side has greater prevalence of mental health & substance abuse than the state & the US. Service area adults experience higher BH hospitalization & ER visit rates, & suicide is high. While drug overdose deaths declined from an all-time high in 2021, a significant portion of those aged 12+ (16.5%) have a substance use disorder, putting them at higher risk for other medical & MH/BH issues, including overdose. Despite growing needs, many people are unable to access care due to lack of capacity & barriers to care, with 26% of adults seeking but not receiving care in 2023. With this BHSE funding, FH will work together with HRDI to strengthen its ability to provide an integrated continuum of care for BH & SUD patients, including those patients who require MAR for their recovery. The integrated care continuum starts with 1-on-1 treatment with a FH provider (either a BH provider or MAR provider) that is coordinated with a primary care provider to ensure that all aspects of the patient’s health are addressed. Patients will have access to intensive case management, evaluation for SDOH & connection to services that will address access barriers, peer recovery services including group therapy, & access to intensive outpatient & residential services through the programs available at HRDI. To support this care continuum, FH will both employ (FH) & contract (HRDI) for staff: 0.40 FTE MD & 0.10 FTE Physician Assistant (PA) to provide MAR; 0.20 FTE Psychiatric NP, 0.10 FTE PA, 0.10 FTE Clinical Psychologist & 0.10 FTE Clinical Therapist to provide BH services to both MAR/SUD & MH/BH patients; 2.0 FTE Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselors & 2.0 FTE Peer Support Specialists with lived experience to support SDOH screening, connection to resources & case management for MAT patients; & 2.0 FTE Case Managers who will work with all patients to provide intensive case management & care coordination with the primary care provider. Through these efforts, FH will expand access to both SUD/MAT & BH services & expects to be able to treat 173 MAR patients & provide BH to those patients who require additional support, provide BH services to 146 patients & provide SUD services to 63 patients. Expanded services will be available for both existing and new patients.
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).