FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Services for Underserved Populations: FY 2024 Proposal This proposal outlines Amador Health Center’s strategy to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services, particularly targeting underserved populations including people experiencing homelessness, racial and ethnic minorities (including people who need to receive care in languages other than English), under- and uninsured individuals, and people living in rural communities. Our project focuses on two key program areas: 1. Increasing Access to Mental Health Services: By employing a multi-faceted approach, we will increase access to mental health services to people in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. This includes increasing staff capacity, expanding the use of evidence-based interventions, and making services more accessible through telehealth and group counseling at our health center. Through these efforts, we will increase the number and diversity of patients receiving mental health services, ensuring that individuals in need have access to quality care. 2. Expanding Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services: Our project also prioritizes expanding SUD services to address the needs of those who are struggling with alcohol and drug disorders. This entails enhancing existing services and collaborating with primary care providers to increase the utilization of FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder treatment. By doing so, we aim to increase the number of patients receiving SUD services, including those receiving medication-assisted treatment (MOUD), thereby improving outcomes for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Our progress will be rigorously measured through data analysis of staffing levels, service utilization, and coordination with the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) and opioid treatment programs (OTP) in Doña Ana County New Mexico. By focusing on these two program areas, we are confident that we will significantly improve access to behavioral health services for underserved populations, resulting in more health equity and well-being in our community.