Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Migrant Health Center Western Region, In. (MIGRANT) program grant number (H80CS00620) is a Community Based, 330 (g) (e) (h), non-profit, 501(c3). MIGRANT provides integrated high-quality health services in 15 clinics located in the western regions of Puerto Rico (PR). MIGRANT provides primary care, behavioral health, OB/Gyn, oral health, nutrition, optometry, mental health, x rays, pharmacy, laboratory, HIV prevention and treatment, vaccination, and substance abuse services, among others. MIGRANT is requesting HRSA-24-078 funding for two years ($600,000 FY1 and $500,000 FY2) to increase access to behavioral health services through expanding mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services. MIGRANT is proposing to use up to $100,000 in year 1 for minor A/R costs necessary to meet the BHSE objectives. The populations to be served are Hispanic/Latino individuals with mental health condition or an SUD, including opioid use in the western regions of PR. The Western Region of PR is home of 408,184 residents, of which 99% are Hispanic/Latino and nearly 55% live under the Federal Poverty Level. There is a high prevalence of SUD and mental health conditions among the target population and often these conditions go undiagnosed and untreated; resulting in the fact that now more than ever, underserved populations seek behavioral health services in primary care settings. Since 2017 PR has gone through a situation of economic inflation, Hurricanes Irma, and Maria (2017), a series of earthquakes that caused further infrastructure damage (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), and Hurricane Fiona (2022). All these events have created a disruption of routine, anxiety, and distress that has led us to see an increase in mental health and SUD disorders among Puerto Ricans. In PR, reports estimate that approximately 18.7% of the population between 18 and 64 years of age have a mental health disorder. When including people with SUD, the figure rises to 23.7%. Of these, 7.3% have a serious mental illness. The most common disorders in the adult target population are anxiety disorders (12.5%); mood disorders (10.4%), SUD (11.5%), major depression (9.7%); social phobia (6.3%), generalized anxiety (5.2%), agoraphobia (4.7%); and bipolar disorder (3.2%). In addition, the suicide rate is 287 per year (7.9 per 100,000 inhabitants). Although it is reported that between 18.7% and 23.7% of the adult population suffers from a mental health disorder and/or SUD, less than half received treatment. In the proposed target areas, among the most predominant barriers and gaps identified that impede access to services MIGRANT can outstand poverty, workforce shortage, high crime rates, geographical barriers, stigma and discrimination, easy access to illicit drugs, and lack of transportation, among others. To address the needs identified MIGRANT is proposing to hire 11.5 FTEs to increase the mental health and SUD workforce in the proposed underserved areas. This multi-disciplinary team will join the existing MIGRANT staff to provide services around the MIGRANT's 15 primary care clinics. This will be a comprehensive team focused on increasing the number of patients receiving integrated mental health, SUD and MOUD services in the Western regions of PR. These personnel will provide services both in person and via telehealth. The proposed staff to be hired will consist of 1 FTE Clinical Social Worker, 2 FTE Nurses, 1 FTE SUD Counselor, 1 FTE Non-Clinical Case Manager, 1 FTE Community Outreach Worker, 1 FTE Driver, 2 FTE Psychologists, 1 FTE Receptionist, 1 FTE Peer Recovery Specialist, and .5 FTE Psychiatrist. The proposed program goals are: 1) Increase the number of MIGRANT patients receiving mental health services by 6% for the year 2025; and 2) Increase the number of MIGRANT patients receiving SUD services by 16%, and patients receiving treatment with MOUD by 15% for the year 2025 following Uniform Data System data.
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).