$4 Million Grant Aims to Combat Disjointed Care
Israa Enan, Care Coordinator with the CCBHC
“It’s a game changer.”
That’s what Maine Behavioral Healthcare (MBH) President Kelly Barton said when asked about the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).
MBH has entered the first year of an implementation grant to focus on access to care for people with serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) through a CCBHC serving York County.
The grant, awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), provides up to $1 million per year for four years to fund the CCBHC. MBH is the sixth behavioral health organization in Maine to participate in the CCBHC model of care, which includes collaboration with other agencies and organizations in the community.
“The behavioral health care system is fraught with disjointed care. The CCBHC is considered the ‘gold standard’ as a model of care across the nation. MBH is committed to doing whatever it takes to strengthen and advocate for individuals and our communities to realize their hopes for behavioral health and well-being.”
– Kelly Barton
A Patient-Centered Approach
A CCBHC is designed to improve timely access to a full range of mental health and substance use treatment services.
“We are working diligently to improve access to a fully array of services through several pathways and clinical innovations,” said Program Director Dory Hacker, LCSW. “When the York County CCBHC is fully up and running, anyone who walks through the door, regardless of their diagnosis and insurance status, can receive services.”
CCBHC Goals
- Increase access to and availability of high-quality services that meet the needs of the community
- Support recovery from mental health and substance use disorder challenges via comprehensive, community-based, treatment and support
- Use evidence-based practices that address CCBHC patient needs
- Involve CCBHC patients and family members in care-decisions, and the broader governance of the CCBHC, in a meaningful way
- Continually work to measure and improve the quality of services
“These are challenging times for behavioral health services in our nation,” Hacker said. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to focus on the needs of our community. Our strength and success lie in the extraordinary team we have established. I look forward to seeing meaningful change in collaboration with our care team, our community partners, and our fellow Maine CCBHCs.”
The MBH CCBHC is expected to begin treating patients later this year in Springvale and Biddeford. Both locations will include dedicated space for peer support services.
Building Connections
Israa Enan, Care Coordinator with the CCBHC, helps connect patients to clinical services and community resources. Israa enjoys her position because she gets to help people with a variety of needs.
“Sometimes the people I talk with are very overwhelmed,” said Enan. “They may be dealing with a number of resources or have appointments and services to sort through. I understand that it can be overwhelming because they have a lot going on mentally and physically. Sometimes they just want to talk, and I feel good just listening to them.”
CCBHC implementation team members, L-R: Israa Enan, Care Coordinator; Beth Delano, Business Intel Developer; Liz Center, Program Manager; Stephanie Bernier, Care Coordinator; Caroline Raymond, Sr. Dir. Community Services; Mary Jean Mork, Clinical Director; Janice Teasenfitz, Clinical Director; Catherine McAllister, Clinical Director; Sara Berner-Orcutt, Regional Medical Director; Dory Hacker, Project Director; Jean Binnette, Nursing Manager; Emily Cross, Practice Manager. Absent from photo: Polly Finlay, Dir. Peer Services; Seth Adams, Supervisor Peer Services; Tessa Buckley, Peer Recovery Partner; Erika Bucklin, Peer Support Specialist; Sarah Wass, Program Manager; Alan Bean Burpee, Dir. Case Management; Ellen Puccia, CCBHC Evaluator; Kelsey Dumont, Executive Assistant; Jenny-Jo Bell, Program Manager.
Great Programs Need Great People
Join our growing team of professionals dedicated to keeping Mainers healthy in body and mind. We have several career opportunities within the CCBHC and throughout Maine Behavioral Healthcare to provide great care to the community. View jobs >
