Thursday, April 24, 2025
4/24/2025
FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Background: Douglas County Public Health Services Group, Inc. DBA/Missouri Ozarks Community Health (MOCH) is a Federally Qualified Health Center established in 1996 to provide medical and dental care to residents of Douglas, Ozark, Texas, and Wright counties in Missouri. The health center operates six free-standing clinical locations and two school-based health centers offering primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. The health center also operates a wellness center with a workout area, walking track, gymnasium, and programming, such as Silver Sneakers, Pickleball, Zumba, a running club, and youth athletic training program designed to promote healthy lifestyles for clinic clients and community members. In 2023, MOCH served 15,080 patients of all ages through 51,943 in-person and virtual patient encounters. Ninety percent of those served live in poverty, at or below 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. Needs to be addressed: Mental health and substance use disorders affect people at all socioeconomic levels. However, some individuals encounter more barriers than others in accessing diagnosis and treatment services. Pervasive stigma, a lack of sufficient behavioral health providers, and long travel times prevent many service area residents from receiving the care they need. Untreated stress, anxiety, and depression may lead to substance misuse and relapse. The Missouri Rural Health Association reports that overdose, suicide, and mental health needs are growing in the state. Suicide rates in the service area are 60% higher than the U.S. average and 20% higher than the Missouri state average. The state is facing an opioid public health crisis of epic proportions. In the service area, opioids account for 75% of substances that cause death. While MOCH provides mental health services, including substance use disorder treatment and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), there is more community need than the health center can meet. Target Populations: The proposed Behavioral Health Service Expansion grant's primary target population includes the residents of Douglas, Ozark, Texas, and Wright counties in Missouri. However, MOCH serves patients from 63 Missouri Zip Codes. MOCH serves all persons, focusing on those challenged to access primary care, including the uninsured, underinsured, and underserved. Proposed Services: MOCH integrates medical and mental health services to ensure patients receive comprehensive, coordinated care. Through the proposed service expansion, MOCH will expand its staff, adding two APRNs who will be MAT prescribers, an SUD specialist, and a therapist. Two peer recovery specialists, a community health worker, and a pharmacist will provide patients with additional support. In addition to new provider staff, MOCH will work with existing staff to increase the number of individuals receiving mental health and substance use disorder treatment and treatment with medications for opioid use disorder.
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).