BETHESDA, Md. and ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and Mental Health America (MHA) are joining forces to advance policies and programs promoting integrated behavioral healthcare in Community Health Centers for children and adolescents.
The formal partnership will support the integration of behavioral healthcare into primary care through policies that will improve financing, national and state agency support, as well as programmatic efforts such as screening, web-based follow-up materials after screening, digital assistance, and other measures. The partnership aims to advance science, education, practice, and policy (SEPP) across health centers and behavioral health organizations informed by patients, communities, and practitioners working within the safety net.
“Community Health Centers proudly serve 1 in 10 people living in rural, urban, suburban, island and frontier communities,” said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC. “As the nation’s largest primary care network, health centers are helping to address the nation’s mental and behavioral health crisis, providing services to 2.7 million patients, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. NACHC looks forward to working with Mental Health America to bring access and screenings to behavioral health services offered through Community Health Centers as the partner of choice.”
“Through our National Screening and Prevention Program and our 143 affiliates across the country, MHA is focused on prevention and early intervention,” said MHA President and CEO Schroeder Stribling. “The power of our partnership with NACHC is already evident at the local level, where our affiliates work side-by-side with local health centers to improve health outcomes in some of the nation’s most underserved communities. Integrating whole-person care is efficient for the providers, convenient for the users, and a dignified way to meet people where they are and address them as whole and unique individuals.”
Both organizations will provide information on screening resources, highlight areas where health centers and MHA affiliates can work together to expand access to integrated care in local communities and states, advocate for regulations and other administrative actions to encourage integrated care, and develop the workforce to meet the demand for care. Additional collaborative efforts will focus on:
- Creation of an advisory group of health centers, youth, families, community organizations, including MHA affiliates
- Creation of content and digital assets informed by advisory groups
- Offering tools and technical assistance based on health center and MHA experience
- Longer-term creation of prevention content on topics such as sleep and social media
- Mobilizing advocates in specific communities and states to support the redefinition of primary care for young people
- Pilot with health centers on integration of behavioral health for youth into clinical settings, including screening and digital health tools
- Research component to measure key outcomes
- Extensive prevention with new materials and new ways of thinking about prevention
- Systemic policy advocacy to support financing of integration at the federal, state, and local levels
The partnership announcement comes on the heels of a recent announcement by the Biden administration of $240 million in funding to integrate mental health and substance use treatment into primary care in more than 400 community health centers across the country.
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About the National Association of Community Health Centers
NACHC is the leading innovative change agent collaborating with affiliates and partners to advance Community Health Centers as the foundation of an equitable health care system free from disparities and built on accessible, patient-governed, high-quality, integrated primary care.
About Mental Health America
Mental Health America is the nation’s leading community-driven nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being, resilience, recovery, and closing the mental health equity gap. Mental Health America’s work is driven by its commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of whole person health, including prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; and integrated care, services and supports for those who need them. Learn more at MHAnational.org.