United Community And Family Services Inc

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

UNITED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SERVICES EXPANSION OF CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS SCREENING AND TREATMENT SERVICES - UNITED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SERVICES, INC. (UCFS) PROPOSES EXPANSION OF CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS SCREENING AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF SCREENING, REFERRAL AND TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-6 LIVING IN NEW LONDON AND WINDHAM COUNTIES OF CONNECTICUT (CT) WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THOSE LIVING IN WINDHAM COUNTY WHICH IS MORE RURAL, ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED, AND LACKS ADEQUATE SOCIAL SERVICES. WITHIN THIS AGE GROUP, THE PROJECT AIMS TO IDENTIFY EVIDENCE OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACE)S, AND INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE SCREENING, EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. THE WORK WILL FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE ACES AND CONNECTING THOSE CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE TREATMENT. TO ACHIEVE THIS, OUR PROJECT PROPOSES TO TRAIN PRIMARY CARE (PC), DENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (BH) PROVIDERS BOTH WITHIN OUR FQHC AS WELL AS OUTSIDE PROVIDERS ELSEWHERE IN THE CATCHMENT AREA TO UTILIZE SCREENING TOOLS TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN WITH BH NEEDS. A LYNCHPIN OF THE WORK WILL BE THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WHO WILL RECEIVE DIRECT REFERRALS FROM PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS AND WILL ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT PREVENT MANY LOCAL CHILDREN IN ACCESSING BH TREATMENT INCLUDING THE RURAL, ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEAST CT WHERE SOCIAL SERVICES DO NOT EXIST IN ADEQUATE PROPORTION TO THE NEED. GOALS: - TRAIN PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS ON THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. - INCREASE USE OF PEARLS SCREENING FOR TRAUMA IN CHILDREN AGES 0-6 - ENGAGE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN SCREENING AND REFERRAL TO TRAUMA TREATMENT - INCREASE ACCESS TO EVIDENCE BASED TRAUMA TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN 0-6 AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. OBJECTIVES: - PROVIDE TRAININGS FOR UCFS CLINICAL STAFF AND COMMUNITY PROVIDERS ON THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND THE KEY COMPONENTS OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. - TRAIN UCFS PROVIDERS ON USING CHDI’S SCREENTIME TOOL TO ASSESS BH NEEDS AS WELL AS PEARLS SCREENING TOOL - SCREEN CHILDREN AGES 0-6 FOR ACES IN UCFS’ PEDIATRIC PC, DENTAL, AND BH DEPARTMENTS - REFER CHILDREN WITH A TRAUMA ENDORSED PEARLS TO UCFS’ BH DEPARTMENT FOR TREATMENT - PROVIDE ARC AND COS TREATMENT TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE REFERRED TO TREATMENT. OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT, UCFS PLANS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SCREENED, REFERRED AND/OR TREATED FOR ACES BY 10% ANNUALLY FOR A TOTAL OF 375 OVER THE COURSE OF THE GRANT (YEAR 1: 53, YEAR 2:70, YEAR 3: 77, YEAR 4: 84, YEAR 5: 91) AND PLANS TO TRAIN A TOTAL OF 212 PROVIDERS IN ACES SCREENINGS (YEAR 1: 22, YEAR 2: 45, YEAR 3: 45, YEAR 4: 50, YEAR 5: 50).

HEALTH CENTER CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT FUNDING

HEALTH CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT

FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - NEED: UCFS’ SERVICE AREA COVERS MOST OF NEW LONDON AND SOUTHERN WINDHAM COUNTIES WITH THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF CLIENTS IN THE URBAN CENTERS OF NORWICH AND NEW LONDON. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY A HIGH RATE OF HEALTH DISPARITIES, SPECIFICALLY DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE DISUSE DISORDERS, DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, INFANT MORTALITY, ASTHMA, AND OBESITY. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT POCKETS OF POVERTY AND LINGUISTIC ISOLATION WHICH ARE MAJOR BARRIERS TO ACCESSING CARE. NORWICH IS DESIGNATED AS A LOW-INCOME PRIMARY CARE AND DENTAL HPSA, A MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATION, AND THE ENTIRE REGION IS A MENTAL HEALTH SHORTAGE AREA. RECENT REPORTS HAVE INDICATED THAT UCFS’ SERVICE AREA CONTINUES TO SEE THE HIGHEST RATE OF ACCIDENTAL DRUG RELATED DEATHS IN THE STATE OF CT (58/100,000 IN NEW LONDON COUNTY) AS WELL AS HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE (12.05/100,000 IN WINDHAM COUNTY AND 10.81/100,000 IN NEW LONDON COUNTY). THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND WORKFORCE SHORTAGES IN SPECIALTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (BH) HAVE CRIPPLED ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING CARE. UCFS HAS OVER 400 PATIENTS ON BH SPECIALTY WAIT LIST WHO WILL BE SERVED BY THE INTEGRATED CARE MODEL THAT UCFS IS PROPOSING. RESPONSE: FOR OVER 30 YEARS, UCFS HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PROVIDER OF BOTH CLINIC- AND COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. IT IS READY TO EMBARK ON A NEW LEVEL OF ACCESS TO SCREENING, ASSESSMENT, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS BY EMBRACING THE INTEGRATION OF BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WITH PRIMARY CARE. DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS IN WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT, THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH “SPECIALTY” BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. ACKNOWLEDGING THIS, UCFS PROPOSES TO EXPAND INTEGRATION OF PRIMARY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CARE, INCLUDING MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, WITHIN PRIMARY CARE VISITS. BY ADDING INTEGRATED CARE CLINICIANS, RECOVERY COACHES, AND COLLABORATION, UCFS WILL ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ADD ICTION HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE PERSON. WORKING IN TANDEM WITH THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND OFFERING SCREENINGS AND INTERVENTIONS WITHIN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING, UCFS WILL ENHANCE ACCESS TO SERVICES SO THAT MORE PATIENTS WILL BE HELPED. THE NEED FOR ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. COLLABORATION: UCFS HAS A LONG HISTORY OF STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL AND WILL CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH THOSE PARTNERS TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. EVALUATIVE MEASURES: UCFS WILL RELY ON OUR INTERNAL CAPACITY TO USE DATA TO INFORM DECISION MAKING. OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS, UCFS HAS ADOPTED A POPULATION HEALTH FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE ADHERENCE TO CLINICAL GUIDELINES, STANDARDS OF CARE, PATIENT SAFETY, PATIENT SATISFACTION, HEALTH EQUITY, AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. WE UTILIZE A ROBUST ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD, SHARED BY CT’S LARGEST HEALTH SYSTEMS TO COORDINATE CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS. RESOURCES: UCFS HAS A STRONG, STABLE, AND EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP TEAM INCLUDING THE CEO/PD (12 YEARS), CMO (22 YEARS), AND COO (17 YEARS). UCFS HAS BUILT A SKILLED TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS COMMITTED TO INTEGRATED CARE AND INCREASING ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY SERVICES. OUR INTEGRATED CARE SUPERVISOR HAS SPENT 10 YEARS WORKING AS A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER, WITH THE LAST 5 SPENT REFINING OUR MODEL OF PRIMARY CARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. GOVERNANCE: UCFS IS GOVERNED BY A 16-PERSON, WELL-INFORMED, CONSUMER DRIVEN BOARD TO ENSURE THAT UCFS IS VIABLE FOR THE FUTURE TO ACTUALIZE PATIENT-CENTERED CARE. OUR BOARD IS VERSED IN HRSA’S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND UNDERSTANDS THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES. SUPPORT REQUESTED: UCFS IS READY TO BUILD ON OUR SUCCESS IN INTEGRATED CARE WITHIN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING TO RESPOND TO THE OVERWHELMING NEED TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY TREATMENT IN OUR SERVICE AREA THROUGH THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. UCFS REQUESTS $1.1 MILLION FOR 2 YEARS.

FY 2020 EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING (ECT)

CDS FY 24: EXPANSION OF MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM IN EASTERN CT - THROUGH FY 24 CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING, UNITED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SERVICES, INC. (UCFS) WILL UTILIZE FEDERAL FUNDS FROM SAMHSA TO EXPAND AND EXPEDITE OUR EXISTING MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) PROGRAM TO ENSURE SAME DAY TREATMENT WHEN SOMEONE IS READY TO ENTER RECOVERY FROM OPIOID USE. THIS FUNDING PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS 9/30/2024 – 9/25/2025. FUNDS WILL ALSO BE USED TO IDENTIFY MORE CLIENTS IN NEED OF MAT SERVICES TO PREVENT OVERDOSING AND TO ASSIST THEM THROUGH THE RECOVERY PROCESS WITH A DEDICATED RECOVERY COACH. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, UCFS WILL HIRE A DEDICATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIAN WHO WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR RAPID INTAKE OF INDIVIDUALS READY TO ENTER RECOVERY AND WILL COORDINATE CARE WITH THE PSYCHIATRIST WHO WILL PROVIDE MEDICATION ASSISTANCE. AN ADDITIONAL RECOVERY COACH WILL BE HIRED TO PROVIDE OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE IN NEED OF OPIOID RECOVERY SERVICES TO TRANSITION THEM INTO CARE AND PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH. WE WILL ALSO USE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE A MAT VAN FOR THE RECOVERY COACH TO CONDUCT OUTREACH THROUGHOUT ALL OF EASTERN CONNECTICUT, TO TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REQUESTED TREATMENT FOR OPIOID USE, AND TO PROVIDE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES FOR CLIENTS IN THE MAT PROGRAM. LASTLY, THE FEDERAL FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE BRIDGE FUNDING FOR SERVICES FOR UNINSURED CLIENTS INCLUDING ACCESS TO INDUCTION (INTAKE) SERVICES AND MEDICATION UNTIL WE CAN CONNECT THE CLIENT WITH EXISTING ACCESS TO CARE STAFF TO ENROLL PATIENTS IN MEDICAID/MEDICARE. UCFS HEALTHCARE HAS A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNCAS HEALTH DISTRICT WHICH IS BASED IN NORWICH AND SERVICES THE NEW LONDON COUNTY REGION OF OUR SERVICE AREA. AS PART OF THIS FUNDING, THE PD, MICHELLE MELENDEZ WILL ESTABLISH LINKAGES AND COLLABORATION WITH THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BASED OUT OF BROOKLYN CT SINCE WE WILL BE TARGETED AREAS IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF CT WHICH ARE IN THAT REGION.

FY 2023 EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINATION

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

FY 2020 CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

FY 2023 BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM