The Mental Health Association of Westchester (MHA) is excited to announce an award of nearly $4 million over the next two years from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This federal grant will enable MHA to develop new services and enhance existing support for uninsured and underinsured individuals in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. Founded in 1946 as the community’s first outpatient behavioral health clinic, MHA has consistently been on the forefront of developing innovative practices and implementing new evidence-based models of care.
The substantive federal grant will support the addition of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Co-Occurring Disorder (COD) services; the development of specialized veteran-oriented services; and the expansion of mobile crisis stabilization services. This award enables MHA to become a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), offering an expanded range of integrated care. 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.
“This grant is an extraordinary opportunity to move forward in areas we have identified as a priority for our communities: the opioid epidemic, suicide prevention, veterans and integrated care. This substantial award enables us to launch a strategic and expansive initiative to provide services to individuals who may have previously been unable to gain access,” said MHA Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Östman, LCSW-R. “We are honored to have been chosen to provide the vital support people need – when and where they need it. Our expanded services will interface with county agencies, schools, the forensic system and other stakeholders to improve access and outcomes. We look forward to working with our community and healthcare partners to make this effort a success.”
Approximately 40 percent of the clients MHA serves for behavioral health challenges also experience SUD issues. Lifting up critical services for this population, MHA’s expanded SUD support will include screening, assessments and referrals when appropriate, as well as implementation of Medication Assisted Treatment. Additionally, the development of veteran-oriented services will be tailored to the extended military community, including current and past members of the armed forces, as well as their family members.
“MHA has already taken the first steps in expanding and integrating our SUD and COD services with the recent approval from New York State to provide integrated SUD and mental health services at our Mount Kisco, White Plains and Yonkers clinics,” said MHA Chief Operating Officer Stacey Roberts, LCSW. “This award enables us to more fully operationalize our vision to ensure every community has comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment.”
Ensuring quality measures will also be at the forefront of these initiatives. MHA will also focus on reducing and eliminating challenges related to waiting times for initial appointments, transportation, payment, language barriers and hours of care.