According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Administration, “A Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model is designed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care. CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age – including developmentally appropriate care for children and youth.” Mississippi is one of fifteen states recently receiving a planning grant to create a state model for CCBHCs.
A community needs assessment is one of the first steps in planning the CCBHC model. The Mississippi Department of Mental Health and partnering organizations developed this assessment, and they ask that anyone involved in or interested in services for adults and children with mental illness or substance use challenges complete the needs assessment survey. Families as Allies also encourages everyone, especially youth and parents and others raising children, to take the survey. Nobody knows better than people who receive services (or would like appropriate services) and their families what is most needed. Please take a few minutes to respond to the survey. It only takes ten minutes, and your answers are confidential.
Last week we shared with you the opportunity to sign up for different committees to design the CCBHC model in Mississippi. There is still time to sign up for committees. Again, we encourage youth, parents and others raising children to check out these committees and sign up for one (or more!). You have invaluable insight into what would be most helpful to families like yours.
This video gives a brief overview of CCBHCs https://youtu.be/OzBUpyIEBpU
This video has more in-depth information (start at about the 12:30 mark) https://youtu.be/JnlUHcD7qNI
If you have questions about or ideas for the CCBHC model in Mississippi, email Project Director Amy Swanson at amy.swanson@dmh.ms.gov. You can also call Ms. Swanson at 330-472-4350 to discuss Mississippi’s CCBHC Planning Grant.
