Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - La Clínica del Pueblo, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC Grant No. H80CS08244), is committed to building a healthy Latine community through culturally appropriate health services. Recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), La Clínica is a certified Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Recovery Support Services (RSS) provider in the District of Columbia (DC). With the HRSA-24-078 funding opportunity, La Clínica seeks to expand by 20% our mental health (MH) and SUD services for low-income, immigrant, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) Latine individuals in the DC-MD-VA (DMV) area. Mental health and substance use disorders are significant concerns among the DMV's Latine community. DC surveillance data reveals that 13.5% of Hispanic respondents reported being diagnosed with a depressive disorder, and 10.7% indicated a lack of adequate support. The DC Community Health Needs Assessment identifies addiction and substance use as top health concerns, echoing feedback from our community. The 2022 Prince George's County Community Health Assessment indicates that 23.5% of Latine residents experience poor mental health and 12.8% are diagnosed with SUD. Additionally, 22.9% of the county's population are immigrants, facing barriers that limit their access to MH and SUD services. The urgency of these issues is highlighted by the 2018 County's Opioid Overdose Report, with 28.4% of opioid overdose deaths involving Hispanic residents. La Clínica's MH and SUD (MHSU) Department offers culturally and linguistically competent services, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy, bilingual psychiatric care, and case management, integrating cognitive-behavioral therapies and motivational interviewing, among other approaches. Mental health therapists are integrated in our medical practice conduct SBIRTs and warm hand-offs as needed. The "Volviendo a Vivir" ("Back to Life") initiative employs the Matrix Model and the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model, providing critical support to individuals struggling with SUDs. In 2023, La Clínica served 4,464 unique patients—54% female, 44% male, and 2% other, primarily aged 18-64. Ninety percent are Latine, 83% require services in a language other than English, 40% are uninsured, and 95% live below 200% of the federal poverty line. La Clínica also provided 4,880 MH service visits to 716 unique patients and 10,490 SUD services to 251 individuals, without prescribing any MOUD. Supported by HRSA-24-078 funding, we aim to enhance our capacity and sustainability by focusing on three core areas: 1. Strengthen MH services by obtaining DC DBH Chapter 34 Core Agency Certification, hiring a full-time psychiatrist, and adding a Mental Health Therapist in DC and MD. 2. Expand SUD services by securing necessary certifications, hiring two full-time counselors, a full-time case manager, and a half-time clinical care coordinator in Prince George’s County, and extending services across state lines. 3. Develop MOUD prescription capacity by training providers in buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone delivery, and addressing stigma and regulatory barriers. Through these initiatives, we anticipate at least a 20% expansion in our MH and SUD services by the end of Year 2, reaching at least 140 new MH clients and 50 new SUD clients, and issuing 100 new MOUD prescriptions. We are confident in our ability to expand our reach, enhance our services, and further our mission to build a healthier community in the DMV region.
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).