Laying a Foundation to Transform Care

The road to becoming a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) is long and winding. Maine Behavioral Healthcare (MBH) is committed to a successful journey thanks to a $4 million implementation grant through the Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant covers up to $1,000,000 per year for four years to fund the CCBHC in York County.

Caroline Raymond, MBH Senior Director of Community Services

Once opened, MBH’s CCBHC will be located in Springvale and Biddeford, to include a dedicated peer space. It will offer comprehensive behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. The past year has been spent preparing for the three-year implementation that is described as “transformative” by MBH Senior Director of Community Services Caroline Raymond.

Changing the system

“The focus of the grant is to improve the system, and part of the way we’re going to do that is by using data from many different domains, assessing the information, and making data-driven decisions,” says Raymond. “It’s not just about us (MBH); it’s about the entire community and how we interact with other agencies and organizations in York County.”

The data collected will consist of information that reflects the true needs of our communities. CCBHCs have been shown to increase access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. They help expand states’ capacity to address the overdose crisis and establish innovative partnerships with law enforcement, schools, and hospitals to improve care, reduce recidivism and prevent hospital readmissions.

Making progress

More than 170 criteria must be met to become certified. During the first year, MBH completed many required activities:

• Successful completion of the York County CCBHC Community Needs Assessment focused on behavioral health and care coordination;
• Hiring and training project staff;
• Establishing a robust interdepartmental implementation team;
• Incorporating MBH Peer Support Services;
• Identifying data collection needs;
• Developing an infrastructure within the electronic health record;
• Conducting a full assessment of services;
• Providing the first of many trainings in evidence-based treatment models (Motivational Interviewing);
• Developing partnership agreements with York County organizations to ensure meaningful care coordination, advanced response to the needs of the community, and systems alignment;
• Designing new pathways for care through interdepartmental collaboration;
• Supporting departments with fidelity adherence to Evidence-Based Practices, training, and enhancement.

“The CCBHC model of care is the best path forward to provide better access to care for the most vulnerable in our communities,” says MBH President Kelly Barton. “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.”