FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Project Title: FY 24 Behavioral Health Services Expansion (HRSA-24-078) Applicant Organization Name: Chinatown Service Center Grant Number: H80CS08735 Project Director Name: Nina Loc Brief Description of the Proposed Project: Geographic Service Area: Chinatown Service Center (CSC)) will implement the proposed program at our FQHC sites located at CSC Health Center Los Angeles -- 767 N Hill Street, Suite 200 and 400, in Los Angeles, CA 90012; CSC Health Center Alhambra -- 320 S. Garfield Ave. in Alhambra, 91801; and CSC Health Center Monterey Park -- 855 S. Atlantic Blvd. Monterey Park, 91754. Our service area covers neighborhoods in Metropolitan Los Angeles, including ‘Chinatown,’ and an area commonly referred to as the ‘San Gabriel Valley,’ both contained within Los Angeles County’s Service Planning Areas 3 and 4. Population to be Served: The majority of CSC’s patients presently and to be served are low-income persons who speak a language other than English at home. Nine of 10 low-income service area residents (90.8%) identify as a race other than white, with the largest racial/ethnic group being Asians (ethnic Chinese), followed by Hispanics. The population is also underserved/unserved, with 59.6% not connected to an FQHC. Specific Outcomes: CSC is committed to significantly enhancing the provision of integrated mental health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, including treatments with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), as part of our integrated medical model. We aim to achieve this through four primary goals: (1) expanding access to these services by increasing patient capacity by 40% in the first year, which will be supported by hiring additional specialized staff and improving our referral processes; (2) enhancing patient-centered, culturally responsive care through the development of training programs on cultural competence; (3) strengthening our infrastructure to enable the prescribing and management of MOUD; and (4) improving health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health through the integration of case managers into our care teams and the implementation of a robust Quality Improvement/Quality Assurance plan. How Project will be Accomplished: Central to this initiative is the enhancement of staffing levels to address the increased demand for mental health and SUD services. We plan to hire additional personnel, including two case managers focused on integrated care, a part-time psychologist, and a full-time therapist. These new hires will expand our capacity to deliver comprehensive, integrated services and directly contribute to increasing the number of patients receiving care. Our staff will undergo training to enhance their capabilities in managing MOUD treatments and providing culturally competent care. This effort is complemented by updates to our EHR system, which will streamline the referral process and enhance communication between service areas. These enhancements will support better coordination of care, enabling timely, effective treatment pathways for our patients. How We Are Increasing the Number of Patients Receiving Behavioral Health Services: CSC behavioral health services are currently delivered through the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model. A critical component of this model is the integration of primary care and monitoring. To address this requirement, we have established a position for an Integrative Care Coordinator. Positioned within the medical clinic, this role is crucial for educating clients about behavioral health services and facilitating transitions with warm hand-offs. Since implementing this integrated care approach, we have observed a significant increase in patient engagement. Encouraged by this success, we are now seeking to replicate this care model at our other locations.
