Bootheel Counseling Services

BCS CARES (COMMUNITY ACCESS AND RESPONSE WITH EXPANSION OF SERVICES) - BOOTHEEL COUNSELING SERVICES (BCS), LOCATED IN THE RURAL SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, SERVES AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR OFFERING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN SCOTT, STODDARD, MISSISSIPPI AND NEW MADRID COUNTIES. THIS PROJECT FOCUSES ON A 4-STEP GOAL THAT INCLUDES: EXPANDING THE ARRAY OF SERVICES OUR AGENCY CURRENTLY OFFERS, IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE, INCREASING THE QUALITY OF CARE AND TO BECOME A TOBACCO/VAPING FREE FACILITY. WE WILL EXPAND OUR CURRENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES BY: PROVIDING RAPID RESPONSE TO INDIVIDUALS PRESENTING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOMS; EXPAND PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION SERVICES BY PRESCRIBERS USING MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT; AND BY DECREASING THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR THE CHRONICALLY MENTALLY ILL BY CREATING A LOCAL ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM. THIS GOAL WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE GRANT PROJECT. THE SECOND GOAL OF THE PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT A SCREENING/TRIAGE SYSTEM THAT WILL RESULT IN IDENTIFICATION OF IMMEDIATE, URGENT, AND ROUTINE LEVEL OF NEED FOR SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING NEW SERVICES. THE THIRD GOAL WILL FOCUS ON INCREASING QUALITY OF CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS BY USING EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES, SCREENING TOOLS, CASE MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATIONS. FOR THE FINAL GOAL, BCS WILL BECOME A TOBACCO/NICOTINE INHALATION PRODUCT FREE FACILITY/GROUNDS AND PROMOTE ABSTINENCE FROM ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WITHIN THE TWO YEAR PERIOD OF THE GRANT AWARD BCS WILL SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 1,500 CONSUMERS, 100 OF WHICH ARE VETERANS.