Wednesday, February 5, 2025
2/5/2025
Behavioral Health Service Expansion (HRSA-24-078) Family Health Center of Southern Oklahoma, Inc. 610 E. 24th St. Tishomingo, OK 73460-3245 Tina Davis, Chief Executive Officer 580-371-2343 (phone) Email address: tdavis@fhcso.org Web site: www.fhcso.org U.S. Congressional Districts: Oklahoma-002 Funding Request: $600,000 in year 1 and $500,000 in year 2 Family Health Center of Southern Oklahoma, Inc. (FHCSO) has served the Oklahoma counties of Atoka, Coal, Johnston, and Marshall since 2004. FHCSO operates four permanent clinic sites and according to the 2023 Uniform Data System report served 9,734 patients. Services provided include primary and preventive medical care, dental, mental health services (substance use disorder services are not currently provided other than Medication for Opioid Use Disorder), and pharmacy services. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of depression are higher in service area counties compared to the national average. Depression affects how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, and working. When a person suffers from depression, they often think more negatively about themselves, and it can lead to thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Rates of mortality from intentional self-harm (suicide) are substantially higher in service area counties and correlate with the area’s high rates of depression. Opioid use disorder is also impacting the service area with 11 opioid-related deaths in service area counties during 2018-2022. During the same timeframe, there were 185 nonfatal drug overdose discharges, of which 42 were due to opioids. The total cost of hospitalization due to the nonfatal drug overdoses was $10 million. Through this Behavioral Health Service Expansion project, FHCSO will expand access to mental health, substance use disorder (SUD), and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services. Staffing to achieve these expanded services will be through directly-employed providers and support staff including: 1.0 FTE Pharmacy Tech, 1.0 FTE Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, 1.0 FTE Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Substance Abuse Counselor, 1.0 LPC, 1.0 FTE Case Manager, 1.0 FTE Patient Intake Coordinator, and 1.0 FTE Pharmacist. Funds will be utilized to expand access to mental health, SUD, and MOUD services via telehealth, ensuring access to these services throughout the rural service area. As a result of expanded services, FHCSO will implement SUD group counseling services in all counties. Training will be provided for FHCSO medical providers to increase the number of MOUD prescribing providers, and Mental Health First Aid training for rural communities will be provided for FHCSO staff. This training addresses specific challenges facing rural communities and helps with identifying, understanding, and helping someone who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.
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).