Westchester Awarded $4 Million Federal Grant

TARRYTOWN, NY (April 28, 2020)—The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) is pleased to announce an award of $4 million over two years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand its existing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). An innovative integrated clinic model, MHA’s CCBHC improves access by addressing financial and logistical barriers and delivers a network of services to support a range of needs, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.

Building on the success of MHA’s first CCBHC award in December 2018, this substantial grant will support expansion in all areas, including: Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASACs) to support individuals experiencing Substance Use Disorders; services for veterans and their families; employment services; 24-hour mobile crisis response, including a specialized team for children; Peer Specialists; Family Support Services to assist family members of those experiencing behavioral health issues; and integrated nursing care to promote whole health.

“We are honored to have been chosen for this federal grant, a reflection of the tremendous work MHA has accomplished in building our CCBHC services. This substantial award enables us to fill critical service gaps, including ramping up mobile support for children, delivering SUD services to combat the opioid epidemic, and offering care for those who have served our country – and their loved ones,” said MHA Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Östman, LCSW-R. “It is clear that the impact of this pandemic will have lasting effects on mental health in our community, rippling out widely. CCBHC funding positions us to immediately provide assistance.”

CCBHC services are available at all of MHA’s hub clinic sites in Westchester and Rockland counties, including Mount Kisco, White Plains, Yonkers and Upper Nyack. Mobile support is also offered for those who have experienced difficulty engaging in traditional clinic services. In addition to expanding services, MHA will continue to focus on quality improvement and reducing and eliminating access-to-care challenges: waiting times for initial appointments, transportation, payment, language barriers and hours of care.

“Founded in 1946, MHA has consistently been on the forefront of developing innovative practices and implementing new evidence-based models of care. We have witnessed firsthand how our Community of Care – these integrated services for the uninsured and underinsured – can lift up children, teenagers, adults and families,” said Chief Operating Officer Stacey Roberts, LCSW. “We are thrilled that this award will support our life-changing work as we step into our 75th anniversary next year.”

With a focus on providing comprehensive mental health and SUD services to vulnerable populations, CCBHCs are part of a federal initiative representing the largest investment in mental health and addiction care in decades.

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For more than 70 years, The Mental Health Association of Westchester has promoted mental health in Westchester through advocacy, community education and direct services. MHA offers a range of services that are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and individualized to promote recovery and wellness. To learn more, visit www.mhawestchester.org.

https://www.mhawestchester.org/news/mha-awarded-4-million-federal-grant-to-expand-integrated-behavioral-health-services –