Department of Human Services Announces Selection of Community Behavioral Health Clinics

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced the selection of 16 locations to participate in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) planning grant. The federal grant encourages states to adopt innovative approaches to community-based behavioral health services.

"We are continually striving to serve more Pennsylvanians in the community and to ensure each member of the commonwealth has access to high-quality care. This critical initiative brings us one step closer to achieving both of those goals," said DHS Secretary Ted Dallas. "Each of the selected clinics possesses the skills necessary to make the significant changes we're working towards in transforming behavioral health services across Pennsylvania."

This initiative will further the Wolf Administration's goal of improving the delivery of care for behavioral health and substance use treatment in the community where people live, providing Pennsylvanians with easier and more consistent access to the services they need. In an effort to provide CCBHC access to all affected Pennsylvanians, the 16 locations are comprised of both rural and urban locations throughout the state.

Each application submitted included a completion of a cost report, letters of support from the Single County Authority and Mental Health Administrator, and a certified clinic readiness tool. The selection committee reviewed the applications submitted, how well agencies met federally established criteria, and received input from each county in which the clinics currently operate.

"DHS has focused on coordination of care, and we believe that the CCBHCs are a vital component to ensuring Pennsylvania has the highest-performing behavioral health and substance use treatments available," said Dallas.

The CCBHC grant has two phases. Pennsylvania was one of 24 states who received the Phase I planning grant. The selected locations will continue working with the commonwealth as DHS prepares to apply to participate in a two-year demonstration program that will begin January 2017.

The federal Excellence in Mental Health Act established the CCBHCs as a way to improve quality and use evidenced-based practices in behavioral health.

The CCBHCs will provide nine core services:

• Crisis services
• Targeted case management
• Outpatient mental health and substance abuse services
• Patient-centered treatment planning
• Screening, assessment, and diagnosis
• Psychiatric rehabilitation services
• Peer and family support
• Care for veterans and members of the military
• Outpatient primary care screening and monitoring.

For more information on the Planning Grants for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, visit www.samhsa.gov/grants.

For more information on the Section 223 Demonstration Program for CCBHCs visit click here.

Media Contact: Rachel Kostelac, 717.425.7606 

The following clinics were selected:

• Berks Counseling Center, Berks
• Cen Clear Child Services, Clearfield
• Cen Clear Child Services, Jefferson
• Cen Clear Child Services, Blair
• Community Council Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Philadelphia
• Community Counseling Center of Mercer County, Mercer
• Community Guidance Center, Clearfield
• Creative Health Services, Montgomery
• Kidspeace, Monroe
• NHS Delaware County, Delaware
• Northeast Treatment Centers, Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh Mercy, Allegheny
• Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia
• Resources for Human Development, Philadelphia
• Safe Harbor, Erie
• The Guidance Center, McKean

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Human Services