FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion - Address: 405 Belcher Street, Centreville, AL 35042-2946 Project Director Name: John B. Waits, MD, CPE, FAAFP Email Address: [email protected] Contact Phone Numbers (Voice): (205) 312-8080 (Fax): (205) 316-7675 Website Address: www.cahabamedicalcare.com HCP Grant Number: H80CS24177 Summary: Cahaba Medical Care Foundation (CMC), a dedicated IRS 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), has been steadfast in its commitment to serving health provider shortage areas (HPSAs) across Bibb, Chilton, Jefferson, Perry, Shelby, and Wilcox Counties in central Alabama. Over the years, CMC has progressively integrated social work and behavioral health services into its multidisciplinary care model, recognizing the imperative of addressing the multifaceted needs of its patient population. Since 2012, CMC has cultivated a robust social work and behavioral health team, bolstering its ability to provide comprehensive care to an increasingly diverse and expanding patient base. However, the pressing need for expanded behavioral health services, particularly in Alabama's rural and urban underserved communities, remains evident, underscored by the alarming statistics associated with the ongoing opioid crisis. Despite concerted efforts to mitigate the crisis, Alabama continues to grapple with disproportionately high rates of opioid prescribing and overdose deaths, with rural areas bearing a disproportionate burden. In response to this critical need, Cahaba Medical Care proposes an ambitious initiative through the Behavioral Health Services Expansion Program to significantly augment the provision of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services within its catchment area with the addition of 4 FTE Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers, 2 FTE of Behavioral Health Consultants, and 1 administrative assistant. Through this project, Cahaba Medical Care aims to bolster its behavioral health workforce across its service areas, ensuring that a greater number of patients in need have access to timely and high-quality care. By recruiting and deploying additional behavioral health professionals, including those specialized in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), we aim to address the escalating demand for behavioral health services. Also, recognizing the barriers to access faced by rural and resource-poor communities, CMC plans to acquire and deploy a mobile health unit in the Alabama Black Belt region. This innovative approach will bridge geographical gaps, bringing essential healthcare services directly to underserved populations. The mobile unit will serve as a lifeline for individuals who may otherwise face insurmountable barriers to care, thereby expanding CMC's reach and impact in addressing behavioral health disparities. Through strategic investments in workforce expansion and innovative service delivery models, Cahaba Medical Care Foundation is poised to make significant strides in advancing behavioral health equity and improving health outcomes for individuals across Alabama's rural and urban landscapes. By leveraging the resources and opportunities afforded by the Behavioral Health Services Expansion Program, we are committed to fostering a healthier, more resilient future for all members of our community.
