Saturday, April 5, 2025
4/5/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Project Title: Fiscal Year 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion Funding Opportunity Number: HRSA-24-078 (CFDA 93.224) Applicant Legal Name: West Side Community Health Services, Inc Applicant Assumed Name: Minnesota Community Care Address: 153 Cesar Chavez St, St. Paul, MN 55107-2226 Health Center Program Grant Number: 6 H80CS00790-23-01 Grant Program Funds Requested: $1,100,000 MCC has a robust behavioral health program, serving 15,578 patients every year. Comprised of behavioral health therapists, social workers, and supporting staff, the behavioral health team serves patients at 3 ambulatory clinics, 10 school-based clinics, and through telehealth. In 2012, MCC became one of the first community health centers to provide Suboxone Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) for the treatment of Substance Use Disorder (SUD). MCC provides a team-based approach, offering integrated behavioral services, MAT, and case management. Mental health is a persistent concern in MCC’s service area, with more than one-quarter of Ramsey County adults reporting a diagnosis of depression or anxiety. What’s more, over half of residents report delaying care for mental health needs, including over one-third who did so because of cost or lack of insurance. Nationally, in the past decade, there has been an increase in drug overdoses in general and a marked increase in opioid overdoses. This national trend is reflected in Ramsey County, which has experienced a steady increase in drug overdose deaths from 14 in 2000 to 89 in 2016. In Minnesota in 2021, Native American/American Indians were 10 times more likely to die of drug use than non-Hispanic Whites. MCC proposes to increase the number of patients receiving mental health services through the addition of several new behavioral health positions, including direct service and supporting positions, as well as several culturally-specific outreach campaigns. Additionally, MCC proposes to increase access to services through the creation of a Technology Center that would allow patients to complete telehealth appointments in an MCC clinic. Some patients do not have access to mobile or internet services, or do not have space in their home to conduct virtual appointments, so a Technology Center would help reduce these barriers to care when in-person care is not possible. MCC will also hire a new Mental Health Care Coordinator who will oversee a phone line dedicated only to behavioral health appointments, reducing wait times, and providing more detailed information. MCC proposes to increase the number of patients receiving SUD services, including patients receiving treatment with MOUD, through new positions, training opportunities, and hiring bonuses for providers willing to provide MAT services. MCC would hire a Community Navigator to reside at Ramsey County Crisis center, which offers on-site mental health services for adults, where they will assist in coordinating with patients discharged from the County who need MAT services. Additionally, MCC will provide SUD training opportunities for current providers who do not currently prescribe MOUD medication. As an FQHC, MCC exists to support individuals who are lower income and are underinsured/uninsured, including multiple marginalized populations, immigrants, refugees, public housing residents, and persons experiencing homelessness. Annually, MCC serves 35,000 patients through 128,000 visits. A summary of patients by race/ethnicity is as follows: 53% Hispanic/Latino, 14% Asian, 14% Black, 11% White, 1% American Indian, 1% Multiracial, 1% Other, and 5% Unidentified. All services are available at a discount to uninsured individuals with lower incomes, and 42% of patients have incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level. Of patients served, 46% have public insurance, 38% are uninsured, and 16% have private insurance. Furthermore, 58% of patients are best served in a language other than English. MCC’s behavioral health patients reflect these demographics.
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).