Wheeler Clinic Inc

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

WHEELER COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS PROGRAM (WHEELER CMHC PROGRAM) - THE WHEELER COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS (CMHC) PROGRAM WILL SERVE CHILDREN/ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE (SED), SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI), AND/OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD) IN FIVE TARGETED COMMUNITIES IN CONNECTICUT (CT): HARTFORD, NEW BRITAIN, WATERBURY, BRISTOL AND PLAINVILLE. THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE RAPID ACCESS TO CARE, OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, STAFF TRAINING, AND SELF-CARE. WHEELER, A LEADING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, WILL IMPLEMENT THE CMHC PROGRAM AT FIVE SITES SERVING MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AND RACIALLY/ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN CT. DESPITE CT HAVING ONE OF THE HIGHEST AVERAGE PER CAPITA INCOME RATES IN THE COUNTRY, THE TARGETED COMMUNITIES HAVE VERY HIGH POVERTY RATES. HARTFORD (28%), WATERBURY (23%), AND NEW BRITAIN (22%) HAVE POVERTY RATES MORE THAN DOUBLE THE STATE RATE (9.9%). THE TARGET COMMUNITIES ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT BLACK, HISPANIC, AND LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT POPULATIONS AND WATERBURY HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT COVID HOTSPOT. RECOGNIZING THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON INDIVIDUALS WITH SED, SMI, OR COD, IN ADDITION TO COVID-19’S DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON MEMBERS OF RACIALLY/ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, THE WHEELER CMHC PROGRAM WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO CLINICAL AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES IN ITS SERVICE AREA. PROGRAM COMPONENTS WILL INCLUDE: THE ADDITION OF A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACCESS TEAM (BHAT) AT EACH CMHC SITE FOR WALK-IN CRISIS AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND CONNECTION TO PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES; ENHANCED REFERRAL PATHWAYS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAITH-BASED AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS; AFTERHOURS PEER SUPPORT; STAFF TRAINING ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES, ENGAGING DIVERSE POPULATIONS, AND THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; AND EXPANDED SELF-CARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF INCLUDING WELLNESS AND HEALTH COACHING. CLIENTS WILL BE CONNECTED TO EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS INCLUDING TRAUMA SERVICES. THE PROGRAM EVALUATION WILL DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CLIENT OUTCOMES UTILIZING GPRA AND ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD DATA. OUTCOME OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: ALL CMHC PARTICIPANTS WILL BE OFFERED PEER ENGAGEMENT AND EARLY INTERVENTION/CRISIS ASSESSMENT; 85% OF PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE ASSESSMENT WILL ATTEND FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT; 75% OF PATIENTS WHO CALL THE AFTERHOURS CRISIS LINE WILL BE DIVERTED FROM THE ED; 85% WILL HAVE NEXT DAY ACCESS TO CARE; 100% OF PATIENTS WILL HAVE TELEHEALTH OPTIONS; OUTREACH TO 600+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS/YEAR AND LINKAGE TO PROGRAM FOR 150 INDIVIDUALS/YEAR; 100% OF WHEELER BH STAFF WILL BE TRAINED IN HEALTH DISPARITIES AND TRAUMA; AND ALL BH WILL HAVE ACCESS TO SELF-CARE SUPPORTS. THE WHEELER CMHC PROGRAM WILL SERVE 500 CLIENTS EACH YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 1,000 CLIENTS OVER THE TWO-YEAR GRANT PERIOD, WILL PROVIDE OUTREACH TO 600 INDIVIDUALS/YEAR, AND WILL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ALL WHEELER BH STAFF.

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM

PROMISING STARTS EARLY CHILDHOOD WELLNESS CONSORTIUM

WHEELER WATERBURY MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM (WATERBURY MAT PROGRAM) - THE WHEELER WATERBURY MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (WATERBURY MAT) PROGRAM WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE ACCESS TO MAT SERVICES AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS BY EXTENDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT; NURSE CARE MANAGEMENT; INTEGRATED MAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES; AND PEER RECOVERY SUPPORTS FOR ADULTS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDERS IN THE GREATER WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY. WHEELER, A LEADING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER IN CT, WILL IMPLEMENT THE MAT PROGRAM AT ITS FAMILY HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER AT 855 LAKEWOOD ROAD IN WATERBURY FOR ADULTS WITH OPIOID USE DISORDERS WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. WATERBURY’S OVERALL POVERTY RATE (23.4%) IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE AND THE CITY IS DIVERSE WITH 37.4% OF RESIDENTS IDENTIFYING AS HISPANIC/LATINX, 18.8% AS AFRICAN-AMERICAN/BLACK, AND 37.8% AS CAUCASIAN. CT EXPERIENCED 1,374 ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE DEATHS IN 2020, AN 88.5% INCREASE OVER 2015. THE CITY OF WATERBURY HAD 343 ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM 2015-2020, THE SECOND HIGHEST OF ANY CITY IN CT. FURTHER, THE OVERDOSE RATE IN WATERBURY FROM 2018-2020 INCREASED 74.4% FROM THE THREE YEARS PRIOR. THE WATERBURY MAT PROGRAM WILL ENHANCE AND EXPAND SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE WATERBURY FAMILY HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER BY INCREASING MAT SERVICES AND ADDING CARE MANAGEMENT AND PEER SUPPORTS. SERVICES WILL INCLUDE: COMMUNITY OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND AWARENESS; WALK-IN COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL ASSESSMENTS FOR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS; PROVISION OF MAT (BUPRENORPHINE, EXTENDED RELEASE NALTREXONE, AND OTHER FDA APPROVED MEDICATIONS) UTILIZING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE COMPLIANCE AND REDUCE THE RISK OF DIVERSION; CONNECTION AND LINKAGES TO COMMUNITY SERVICES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH; INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS THE USE OF THE MYSTRENGTH DIGITAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH APPLICATION TO ENGAGE AND RETAIN CLIENTS IN TREATMENT; PEER SUPPORTS; TOBACCO CESSATION SERVICES; AND COORDINATION OF CARE WITH RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS SERVICES. A HIGH QUALITY PROCESS AND OUTCOME EVALUATION WILL DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CLIENT OUTCOMES UTILIZING GPRA AND OTHER DATA FROM THE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD. OUTCOME OBJECTIVES INCLUDE: ALL WATERBURY MAT PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE RECOVERY PLAN FULLY INTEGRATING MAT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PRIMARY HEALTH, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN RECOVERY; AT LEAST 65% OF PARTICIPANTS WILL INCREASE RETENTION AND ACHIEVE FAVORABLE TREATMENT OUTCOMES; AT LEAST 75% OF PARTICIPANTS WILL REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE; AND AT LEAST 65% OF PARTICIPANTS WILL IMPROVE PRIMARY AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT COMPLIANCE. THE WATERBURY MAT PROGRAM WILL SERVE 100 ADULTS EACH YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF 500 ADULTS OVER THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

WHEELER YOUTH AND FAMILY TREE PROGRAM (WHEELER TREE PROGRAM)

WHEELER INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH (IECMH) PROGRAM

WHEELER NEW BRITAIN MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM

THE WHEELER ADULT REENTRY PROGRAM - WHEELER IS A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE CONTINUUM OF INTEGRATED PRIMARY, DENTAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, RECOVERY, SPECIALTY, AND AFTERCARE SERVICES TO MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE WHEELER ADULT REENTRY (AR) PROGRAM PROPOSES TO SERVE ADULTS, AGES 18 AND OLDER, WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) OR CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS (COD) RETURNING TO GREATER HARTFORD, BRISTOL, NEW BRITAIN, PLAINVILLE, OR WATERBURY, CT. AFTER A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS SUPERVISED IN THE COMMUNITY UNDER THE DIVISION OF PAROLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, AS WELL AS, THOSE SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE FROM YORK, CYBULSKI, ROBINSON, AND OSBORN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 80% OF CT DETAINEES HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR SUD REQUIRING TREATMENT. 94% OF DETAINED PERSONS WITH SENTENCES ENDING WITHIN SIX MONTHS AND 89% OF INDIVIDUALS UNDER COMMUNITY SUPERVISION STATEWIDE HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE ISSUE. 75% OF DETAINED PEOPLE AND 72% OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISED PERSONS STATEWIDE ARE REPORTED TO REQUIRE SOME LEVEL OF NURSING CARE. 62% OF THE DETAINED POPULATION WITH SENTENCE ENDING WITHIN SIX MONTHS AND 46% OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISED INDIVIDUALS LACK A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA INDICATING POTENTIAL LOW HEALTH LITERACY AND A NEED FOR FULL SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO CARE, RETENTION, TREATMENT OUTCOMES, AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION BY EXTENDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE INTENSIVE CARE MANAGEMENT, TRAUMA-INFORMED TREATMENT, AND LINKAGES TO WHOLE-HEALTH SERVICES. NUMBER SERVED: 300 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ENROLLED OVER THE 5-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD: Y1=50, Y2=70, Y3=70, Y4=70, AND Y5=40 (FOR RAMP DOWN). GOALS: 1) CONDUCT PRE-RELEASE ENGAGEMENT TO IDENTIFIED SENTENCED ADULTS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE AND PERSONS IN COMMUNITY SUPERVISION UPON REFERRAL. 2) IMPLEMENT AR SERVICES FOR ADULTS WITH A SUD AND/OR COD RETURNING TO THE TARGET COMMUNITIES AFTER A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION BUILDING ON WHEELER’S EXISTING COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. OBJECTIVES: A. CONDUCT IN-REACH TO PERSONS SCHEDULED FOR UPCOMING RELEASE AND ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS UNDER COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND AT-RISK OF REINCARCERATION, UPON REFERRAL, TO INFORM THEM OF AVAILABLE SERVICES, ESTABLISH TRUST, AND DEVELOP A TRANSITION PLAN. SCHEDULE COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION FOR SUD AND COD FOR DAY OF RELEASE, SO REQUIRED MEDICINE AND MAT SERVICES CAN BE IMMEDIATELY ACCESSED. B. COLLABORATE WITH CORRECTIONS, PAROLE, PROBATION, AND OTHER AGENCIES TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE, PERSON-CENTERED, CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE TRANSITION PLAN. C. INCREASE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE RECOVERY-ORIENTED MAT SERVICES, NURSE CARE MANAGEMENT, AND PEER ENGAGEMENT AND ESTABLISH LINKAGES TO INTEGRATED PRIMARY, MENTAL HEALTH, DENTAL, AND ANCILLARY SERVICES. D. REDUCE CLIENTS’ SUBSTANCE USE, IMPROVE PRIMARY AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS (I.E. ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, HYPERTENSION, DIABETES), AND SECURE TREATMENT COMPLIANCE THROUGH IMPROVED ENGAGEMENT AND PEER SUPPORT. E. ENGAGE CLIENTS IN RECIDIVISM-REDUCING COMMUNITY RECOVERY SUPPORTS/RESOURCES TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS. MEASURES: I) 100% OF CLIENTS WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED TRANSITION PLAN AND ACTIONABLE STEPS FOR ACCESSING EVALUATION SERVICES THE SAME DAY OF THEIR RELEASE. II) 100% OF AR CLIENTS WILL HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE RECOVERY PLAN THAT FULLY INTEGRATES MAT, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PRIMARY CARE, AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN RECOVERY. III) REDUCE SUBSTANCE USE FOR 75% OF CLIENTS; AT LEAST 65% OF CLIENTS IMPROVE OTHER PRIMARY AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT COMPLIANCE AND WILL ACHIEVE SUSTAINED RECOVERY. IV) 100% OF CLIENTS WILL BE OFFERED RECIDIVISM-REDUCTION SUPPORTS TO AID THEM IN BECOMING CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. AT LEAST 75% OF CLIENTS WILL ACHIEVE NO RECIDIVISM 6 MONTHS POST-RELEASE OR PROGRAM INITIATION.

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

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

WHEELER MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING - EMERGENCY SERVICES (MHAT-ES) - THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING – EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) TRAINING TO EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONALS IN CONNECTICUT INCLUDING LOCAL AND STATE POLICE, FIRE PERSONNEL, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION STAFF, COLLEGE CAMPUS SECURITY AND STUDENT CONDUCT REPRESENTATIVES. THESE PROFESSIONALS FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER INDIVIDUALS WHO EXHIBIT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS. WHEELER CLINIC, A LEADING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PREVENTION PROVIDER IN CONNECTICUT, WILL PROVIDE 156 MHFA TRAININGS TO 3,120 EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONALS. EACH TRAINING WILL AVERAGE 20 PARTICIPANTS. (YEAR 1: 28 TRAININGS FOR 560 PEOPLE AND YEARS 2-5: 32 TRAININGS FOR 640 PEOPLE PER YEAR.) WHEELER IS WORKING WITH STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CONNECTICUT POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COUNCIL, THE CONNECTICUT STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SYSTEM, AND THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO REACH THESE PROFESSIONALS. OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES ARE PRIORITY HEALTH NEEDS IN MOST CT TOWNS AS INDICATED BY COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENTS (2018-2019). THE TARGETED PROFESSIONALS FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THEY ARE NOT TYPICALLY TRAINED IN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS OR DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES. LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND FIRST RESPONDERS ARE AT GREATER RISK THAN THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIFETIME DUE TO CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES. PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN CONCRETE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND TO USE THE ALGEE METHOD FOR PROVIDING AID: ASSESS FOR RISK OF SUICIDE OR HARM, LISTEN NONJUDGMENTALLY, GIVE REASSURANCE AND INFORMATION, ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL HELP, AND ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP AND OTHER SUPPORT STRATEGIES. THE MHAT-ES PROGRAM WILL UTILIZE THE ADULT MHFA CURRICULUM WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE/EMS, AND HIGHER EDUCATION MODULES, AS APPROPRIATE. THE MHFA PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRE/EMS MODULES ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND ADDRESS RECOGNIZING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES IN OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF. THE MHAT-ES PROGRAM WILL INCREASE (1) THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TRAINED IN MHFA; (2) THE ABILITY OF EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONALS TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL DISORDERS WHEN RESPONDING TO CALLS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHEN THEY ARE EXHIBITED BY OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES STAFF; AND (3) THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS REFERRED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES MADE BY EMERGENCY SERVICES PROFESSIONALS. WHEELER ANTICIPATES 1,200 INDIVIDUALS WILL BE REFERRED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES OR SUPPORTS AS A RESULT OF THIS GRANT.

HEALTH CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT

FY 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION - PROJECT TITLE: FISCAL YEAR 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION APPLICANT ORGANIZATION: WHEELER CLINIC, INC., 91 NORTHWEST DR, PLAINVILLE, CT 06062 PROJECT DIRECTOR: KIMBERLY HOLYST, HEALTH & WELLNESS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIRECTOR; PHONE (203) 802-3099; KHOLYST@WHEELERCLINIC.ORG; WWW.WHEELERCLINIC.ORG FUNDS REQUESTED: HRSA-24-078 WHEELER CLINIC (HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM GRANT # H8029001) IS SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION, FISCAL YEAR 2024 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE EXPANSION (HRSA-24-078), FOR FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $600,000 IN YEAR 1 AND $500,000 IN YEAR 2 TO IMPLEMENT THE WHEELER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES EXPANSION (BHSE). THE BHSE WILL SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (BH) AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) AND/OR INDIVIDUALS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (COD) IN BRISTOL AND WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT (CT). UNDER THE BHSE, WHEELER WILL PROVIDE SAME-DAY ACCESS (SDA) TO WALK-IN ASSESSMENT AND LINKAGE TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, CRISIS AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES, AND CONNECTION TO PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES AND MEDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF OPIOID USE DISORDER (MOUD) AND SUD SERVICES AS NEEDED. WHEELER, A LEADING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER AND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER (FQHC), WILL IMPLEMENT BHSE AT ITS HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTERS IN WATERBURY (855 LAKEWOOD ROAD) AND BRISTOL (10 AND 225 N. MAIN ST.), WHICH SERVE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AND RACIALLY/ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. DESPITE CT HAVING ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S HIGHEST AVERAGE PER CAPITA INCOME RATES, POVERTY RATES AND MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA REVEAL THE DEPTH OF URBAN ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND THE ISOLATION OF LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES. BRISTOL ($73,604) AND WATERBURY ($48,787) HAVE A MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME BELOW THE STATE ($83,572). WATERBURY’S POVERTY RATE (22%) IS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE STATE RATE (10%), AND 20% OF RESIDENTS LACK RELIABLE ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION WITH SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES FOR NON-WHITE RESIDENTS. WATERBURY (CENSUS TRACT 3501, 69.8 YEARS) HAD CT’S SECOND WORST LIFE EXPECTANCY RATE, WELL BELOW THE 80.8 STATE AVERAGE. FROM 2015-2024, WATERBURY (665) RANKED THIRD AND BRISTOL SIXTH (238) IN CT FOR DRUG RELATED DEATHS. SINCE 2020, FENTANYL ACCOUNTED FOR 87% OF DRUG-RELATED DEATHS IN THESE CITIES. WATERBURY HAS FIVE CENSUS TRACTS CONSIDERED BOTH FOOD AND MEDICAL DESERTS, WITH LIFE EXPECTANCIES FOUR YEARS LESS THAN PEOPLE NOT LIVING IN FOOD OR MEDICAL DESERTS. INDIVIDUALS WITH BH ISSUES, SUD, AND COD IN THESE CITIES EXPERIENCE EVEN GREATER HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCE OF STIGMA IN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS AND PAST EXPOSURE TO TRAUMA OFTEN CREATE SUBSTANTIAL BARRIERS TO CARE. BRISTOL AND WATERBURY INCLUDE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS AND PRIMARY CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. WHEELER’S SDA BHSE WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO CLINICAL AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES IN ITS SERVICE AREA THROUGH DEDICATED SDA STAFF, WHO WILL FOSTER ENHANCED REFERRAL PATHWAYS VIA PARTNERSHIPS WITH FAITH-BASED, GRASSROOTS, AND OTHER RECOVERY ORGANIZATIONS. THE SDA TEAM AND OTHER STAFF AT EACH SITE WILL RECEIVE TRAINING ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SDA TO SERVICES AND ENGAGING DIVERSE POPULATIONS. CLIENTS WILL BE CONNECTED TO EVIDENCE-BASED SERVICES TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. A PROGRAM EVALUATION WILL DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND CLIENT OUTCOMES USING UDS AND ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD DATA. OUTCOME OBJECTIVES INCLUDE 95% OF BHSE CLIENTS BEING OFFERED SDA TO BH ASSESSMENTS; 95% OF THOSE ACCESSED HAVING SDA TO PRIMARY AND/OR MOUD, AS NEEDED; 75% OF CLIENTS, WHO COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT, ATTENDING RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT WITHIN FIVE WORK DAYS; AND 100% OF WHEELER WATERBURY AND BRISTOL BH STAFF BEING TRAINED IN SDA TO CARE. WHEELER’S BHSE WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO 500 CLIENTS IN YEAR 1, INCLUDING 425 FOR BH, 75 FOR SUD SERVICES, AND 60 RECEIVING MOUD, AND WILL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ALL WHEELER BH STAFF IN BRISTOL AND WATERBURY.

HEALTH CENTER PROGRAM SERVICE EXPANSION - SCHOOL BASED SERVICE SITES (SBSS)

COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR TRANSITION-AGED YOUTH (CSTAY)

WHEELER MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING - PUBLIC SAFETY (MHAT-PS)

FY 2023 EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

CONNECTICUT OPIOID MISUSE PREVENTION INITIATIVE (COMP INITIATIVE)

FY 2020 EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING (ECT)

FY 2023 EXPANDING COVID-19 VACCINATION

RYAN WHITE TITLE III HIV CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING GRANTS - WHEELER CLINIC, INC. IS REQUESTING $150,000 UNDER NOFO# HRSA-25-049 RYAN WHITE HIV/AIDS PROGRAM PART C CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HIV CARE FOR LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARTFORD, CT UNDER THE HIV CARE COORDINATION CATEGORY EMPLOYING THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. WHEELER’S MOBILE HEALTH VAN FOR HIV CARE INNOVATION PROJECT WILL DELIVER GENERAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, HIV AND STI TESTING, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENINGS, SCREENINGS FOR SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (SDOH), HEALTH EDUCATION AND IMMUNIZATIONS ONSITE AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. THESE MOBILE SERVICES WILL ALSO INCLUDE REFERRAL TO WHEELER’S HARTFORD FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER (FHWC) FOR EXPANDED HIV PRIMARY CARE TREATMENT, AND REFERRAL TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, AND FOOD INSECURITY. WHEELER CLINIC’S MOBILE HEALTH VAN FOR HIV CARE INNOVATION PROJECT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED ACCESS TO HIV CARE, IMPROVED EARLY DETECTION, ENHANCED RETENTION IN CARE, BETTER MANAGEMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES, AND A REDUCTION IN HIV TRANSMISSION RATES, ALL OF WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARTFORD. WHEELER WILL DEVELOP STRATEGIC, NON-TRADITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, HARM REDUCTION PROVIDERS, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROVIDERS, AND THOSE WHO SERVE HIGH-RISK AND HIV-POSITIVE CLIENT BASES. WHEELER’S PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY TO ENGAGE AND RE-ENGAGE PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV (PLWH) WHO HAVE FALLEN OUT OF CARE AND LINK THEM TO COMPREHENSIVE HIV PRIMARY CARE SERVICES AT WHEELER’S HARTFORD FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER (FHWC), AND TO SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES. THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH NON-TRADITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, WHEELER WILL HELP CREATE A HOLISTIC CARE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR UNDERSERVED PLWH.

FY 2020 CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTERS

FY 2023 BRIDGE ACCESS PROGRAM

COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR TRANSITION-AGED YOUTH (CSTAY)