FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - The Sto-Rox Neighborhood Health Council (SRNHC) is an independent not-for-profit corporation located in McKees Rocks, PA that has provided continuous primary health care services for target population residents for more than 50 years. The SRNHC mission is to provide comprehensive health services for the McKees Rocks, Stowe Township, Hilltop, and surrounding communities by focusing on the treatment of illness, the prevention of disease, and the promotion of health. Our care will be known for its quality, availability, and compassion. The SRNHC provides primary health care services in two (2) locations: 1) Sto-Rox Family Health Center and 2) The Hilltop Community Health Center serving in Allegheny County. The SRNHC offers preventive and primary health services to adults and children regardless of their ability to pay. Services included adult medicine, pediatrics, dentistry, podiatry, vision, and behavioral health services, including psychiatry services. SRNHC is recognized by the NCQA as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). SRNHC seeks to implement a holistic approach to health and wellness within its patient-centered model of care that includes medical, dental, and behavioral health services. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), we strive to provide access to the most medically vulnerable residents within our service area. Our target population includes individuals with incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, individuals eligible for medical assistance, the uninsured, and other populations that experience barriers to accessing primary care services. More than two-thirds of patients with known incomes lived in households at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. The behavioral health needs of residents in Allegheny County are well-documented for both mental health and substance use disorders. SRNHC is in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) for primary care, dental, and behavioral health. Our behavioral health HPSA score is seventeen (17), demonstrating a significant need in the communities that we serve. According to the 2024 Robert Woods Johnson County Rankings, the average number of mentally unhealthy days is 5.1, representing a significant increase from 3.8 days reported in 2020 for this measure. The rankings report also indicates that the age-adjusted suicide rate for Allegheny County matches the state rate at 15 per 100,000 population. Service area data indicates that residents in McKees Rocks experience higher rates of depression 23.7% than county and state residents both at 20%. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Allegheny County is one of the state’s hotspots for opioid use and unintentional drug overdoses. The health center is committed to meeting the behavioral health needs of its patients using an integrated model of care. Our behavioral health services operate in partnership with primary care providers to provide comprehensive care for all patients. The health center continues to strive to strengthen and expand its capacity to deliver care that incorporates medical and behavioral health patient needs with the goal of achieving full integration. SRNHC is seeking funding to expand its capacity to provide behavioral health services. The proposed budget includes additional behavioral health providers and support of critical psychiatry services for health center patients. One-time costs include planned staff training and health center enhancements to create warm and inviting spaces for behavioral health visits. Training opportunities will assist the health center in continuing its journey to become a trauma-informed care organization. With planned enhancements, SRNHC will increase the number of behavioral health users and visits.
