Extending Our Safety Net in the Bronx

We are beginning to deliver truly integrated mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in its South Bronx clinic under the federal government’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model. CCBHCs are a best-in-class approach to delivering behavioral health services, offering rapid access to integrated, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, person-and-family-centered care.

The enhanced clinic, which is supported by a $4 million federal infrastructure grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will begin accepting new client referrals this fall.

Under the CCBHC model, the clinic, which has long provided mental health support to children, adolescents and their families, is expanding its services to offer fully integrated mental health and SUD treatment to all individuals in the South Bronx and surrounding communities. CCBHC clinic services are typically reimbursed through Medicaid and Medicare, but will be provided to anyone who needs them, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Our clinic is one of approximately 500 CCBHCs nationwide focused on improving availability of and access to care, while at the same time ensuring comprehensive coordination between all providers. The evidence-based CCBHC model requires the clinic to offer nine core services (see diagram above), either directly or through a partnering organization.

“Research has shown that providing these combined core services through one integrated hub has a significant positive impact on local communities,” says Alexandra Karydi, director of Behavioral Health Product Development. “In the South Bronx, there’s a real need for a coordinated approach to people struggling with substance use, many of whom have mental health issues as well. With the CCBHC model, we can help prevent these community members from falling through the cracks of our health care system while also reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and ER visits.”

With conditional approval for its Article 32 License (substance use disorder treatment) in place, we will be weaving together our new service with our existing mental health services in its Bronx clinic, starting in September. To further support the CCBHC model’s emphasis on rapid access, the our facility is the only clinic in the area that will be open in the evenings and on weekends, ensuring that working people, children in school, and families can get the help they need, when and where they need it.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this nationally recognized, evidence-based model of behavioral health care to the South Bronx clients we serve,” says Jessica Fear, SVP for Behavioral Health. “With the opening of our CCBHC, VNS Health has the opportunity to lead the way in delivering the highest-quality care while simultaneously delivering on our mission of expanding our Behavioral Health portfolio.”