Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Project Title: Fiscal Year 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion Applicant Organization: Wheeler Clinic, Inc., 91 Northwest Dr, Plainville, CT 06062 Project Director: Kimberly Holyst, Health & Wellness Behavioral Health Director; phone (203) 802-3099; kholyst@wheelerclinic.org; www.wheelerclinic.org Funds requested: HRSA-24-078 Wheeler Clinic (Health Center Program Grant # H8029001) is submitting this application, Fiscal Year 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion (HRSA-24-078), for funding in the amount of $600,000 in year 1 and $500,000 in year 2 to implement the Wheeler Behavioral Health Services Expansion (BHSE). The BHSE will serve individuals with behavioral health (BH) and substance use disorders (SUD) and/or individuals with co-occurring disorders (COD) in Bristol and Waterbury, Connecticut (CT). Under the BHSE, Wheeler will provide same-day access (SDA) to walk-in assessment and linkage to behavioral health services, crisis and early intervention services, and connection to psychiatric services and medications for treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD) and SUD services as needed. Wheeler, a leading community mental health center and federally qualified health center (FQHC), will implement BHSE at its Health & Wellness Centers in Waterbury (855 Lakewood Road) and Bristol (10 and 225 N. Main St.), which serve medically underserved and racially/ethnically diverse communities. Despite CT having one of the country’s highest average per capita income rates, poverty rates and median household income data reveal the depth of urban economic challenges and the isolation of low-income residents in suburban communities. Bristol ($73,604) and Waterbury ($48,787) have a median household income below the state ($83,572). Waterbury’s poverty rate (22%) is more than double the state rate (10%), and 20% of residents lack reliable access to transportation with significant disparities for non-white residents. Waterbury (census tract 3501, 69.8 years) had CT’s second worst life expectancy rate, well below the 80.8 state average. From 2015-2024, Waterbury (665) ranked third and Bristol sixth (238) in CT for drug related deaths. Since 2020, Fentanyl accounted for 87% of drug-related deaths in these cities. Waterbury has five census tracts considered both food and medical deserts, with life expectancies four years less than people not living in food or medical deserts. Individuals with BH issues, SUD, and COD in these cities experience even greater health disparities and their experience of stigma in health care settings and past exposure to trauma often create substantial barriers to care. Bristol and Waterbury include Medically Underserved Areas and Primary Care and Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas. Wheeler’s SDA BHSE will expand access to clinical and recovery support services in its service area through dedicated SDA staff, who will foster enhanced referral pathways via partnerships with faith-based, grassroots, and other recovery organizations. The SDA team and other staff at each site will receive training on implementation of SDA to services and engaging diverse populations. Clients will be connected to evidence-based services to meet their individual needs. A program evaluation will determine the effectiveness of the implementation and client outcomes using UDS and electronic health record data. Outcome objectives include 95% of BHSE clients being offered SDA to BH assessments; 95% of those accessed having SDA to primary and/or MOUD, as needed; 75% of clients, who complete an assessment, attending recommended follow-up treatment within five work days; and 100% of Wheeler Waterbury and Bristol BH staff being trained in SDA to care. Wheeler’s BHSE will increase access to 500 clients in Year 1, including 425 for BH, 75 for SUD services, and 60 receiving MOUD, and will provide training for all Wheeler BH staff in Bristol and Waterbury.
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).