FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Behavioral Health Service Expansion (HRSA-24-078) Ozarks Resource Group d/b/a Ozarks Community Health Center, current grantee #H80CS24137 18614 Jackson St., PO Box 125 Hermitage, MO 65668 Scott Crouch, CEO (417) 745-0103; Fax (417) 745-2032 Email address: scott.crouch@ozarkschc.com Web site: www.ozarkschc.com U.S. Congressional Districts in Service Area: Missouri 4 Request: $600,000 in year 1 and $500,000 in year 2 UEI: TCBBWL6Y4X97 History, Community, and Target Population: Ozarks Resource Group d/b/a Ozarks Community Health Center (OCHC) began as a grass-roots community effort, led by the local health department in 2006, with the goal of increasing access to affordable health care services in underserved areas. After receiving support from the local community and state, OCHC applied for and received New Access Point funding in June 2012. Since that time, OCHC has strategically grown and expanded to address health care needs of the service area. OCHC provides access to mental health services, including school-based mental health services. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services are not currently provided and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) services were provided for three patients according to the 2023 UDS report. OCHC serves the four-county service area of Dade, Dallas, Hickory, and Polk counties in Missouri. These counties are all rural counties with Health Professional Shortage Area designations for mental health (some shortages are specific to the low-income population). Through this application, OCHC will expand access to mental health, SUD, and MOUD services, which are a tremendous need throughout the service area. Expanded services will be provided by directly employing 1.0 FTE Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and a 1.0 FTE Certified Peer Support Specialist (SUD). Through a partnership with Citizens Memorial hospital, a local hospital in the service area, OCHC will contract for .85 FTE Family Physician and Addiction Medicine specialist as well as 1.0 FTE Nurse Practitioner to provide MOUD treatment. These staff members will be supported by 2.0 FTE Patient Services Representatives to assist with patient registration, scheduling, and check-in; 1.0 FTE LPN to support the additional provider staff, 1.0 FTE Behavioral Health Coordinator to assist with referrals and partnership collaboration, as well as 1.0 FTE Community Health Worker/Navigator to assist with the Social Determinants of Health and connecting patients with the resources they need, including access to affordable insurance applications.
