Integrating Behavioral Health Services into Community-Based Organizations

Project: To develop a sustainable model of integrating behavioral health services into community organizations where patient relationships are already in place.
Grantee: Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health
Investment: $216,144 to fund two years
Year: 2019

Background: In Ohio, 53.4% of adults with a mental illness receive no treatment, which equals approximately 949,000 people. One out of 5 adults with a mental illness report they were not able to receive the services they needed. The reasons include no insurance or limited coverage, shortfalls in psychiatry and mental health workforce, lack of availability in treatment types (inpatient, individual therapy, intensive community services), disconnect between primary care and behavioral health, and insufficient finances to cover costs.

Project Description: The Community Partnership Development Project project will integrate behavioral health services at YWCA and Brighton Center so that individuals and families who are served in there have easier access to trauma-informed interventions and behavioral health treatment. Through this project, an on-site therapist will provide individual, family and group therapy at community locations. Therapists will also train and educate community service staff to look for and work to prevent adverse effects of emotional trauma.

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health aims to serve 210 patients over the grant’s two years. Over 90 percent of these patients are expected to be economically disadvantaged at less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Through the services provided, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health seeks to increase patients’ resiliency by providing earlier access to behavioral health services and breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Ultimately, it helps patients lead healthier, more productive lives.

Through the project, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health also hopes to drive cross-sector collaboration, engage community members in program development and create a sustainable model of service delivery.

Partners: YWCA and Brighton Center

Other Funders: United Way of Greater Cincinnati