H79SM085694

Strengthen Behavioral Health Outcomes - Unison Behavioral Health Group (UBHG) submits for consideration the "Strengthen Behavioral Health Outcomes" (SBHO) initiative. This initiative aims to establish and/or expand key outreach, community-based services, capacity building/training, and the use of behavioral health evidenced-based best practices (EBPs) for residents of Lucas County, Ohio. Lucas County has a population of 428,348 and is the intended catchment area for the CMHC funding. The initiative will particularly focus on Toledo, which has a population of 276,491, accounting for 65% of the population of Lucas County. Toledo has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to US Census data, Lucas County is composed of 68.2% White, 20.3% Black, 1.7% Asian, 3.3% two or more races, and 7.4% identify as at least some Latino/Hispanic background. The county is 51.6% female and 48.4% male (ACS, 2019).

UBHG is the CMHC applicant and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with over 40 years of experience as a provider organization serving residents with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorders (SUD), and co-occurring mental health/substance use disorders (COD). The SBHO project aims to serve all residents in Lucas County with behavioral health needs, with a particular emphasis on justice-involved individuals, school-age youth, and those already in the community mental health system.

Census data reports that 23.7% of Lucas County is enrolled in Medicaid, compared to Ohio (18.1%) and national (19.3%) averages. Additionally, almost 9% of Lucas County (8.8%) is uninsured, compared to state (7%) and national (8%) averages. Furthermore, 13.8% of the county reports having one or more disabilities, compared to 11.8% nationally (U.S. Census, 2019).

The SBHO initiative aims to address treatment gaps and needs in mental health, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders through the attainment of the following goals:

- Achieve CMHC initiative targets by establishing key infrastructure changes within four months of CMHC funding award.
- Provide enhanced screening and referral services and an expanded continuum of care to school-age youth.
- Provide enhanced screening and referral services and an expanded continuum of care to individuals in the jail system.
- Increase Lucas County's social service network knowledge base and how to access trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and other key EBP services.
- Conduct full oversight, continuous quality improvement (CQI), and project evaluation to examine and assure the effectiveness of the SBHO initiative and CMHC funding.

To accomplish these goals, UBHG will maximize outreach, expand community partnerships, and utilize additional EBPs. UBHG will also train staff and community partners on EBPs and how to recognize and refer clients in need of mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorder services. The estimated number of clients to be served with CMHC funding will be 2,178 over the two-year grant period.

Unison Behavioral Health Group

NOT APPLICABLE

93.958 - Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services

Division of Grants Management [HHS - SAMHSA]

Toledo, Ohio 436045330 United States

Single Zip Code

Community Mental Health Centers Grant Program (SM-21-014)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 09/29/23 to 02/29/24 and the total obligations have decreased 2% from $3,636,219 to $3,573,614.