Promise Healthcare To Expand Behavioral Health Services With Federal Grant

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $12 million to 40 community health centers across Illinois. The funding will be used to expand access to substance abuse treatment and mental health services.

Promise Healthcare in Champaign is among the recipients. The community health center delivers primary medical, behavioral health, and dental care to patients regardless of ability to pay.

Executive Director Nancy Greenwalt said the money will be used to hire additional behavioral health staff.

“The idea was that they want to use evidence-based models to try to address the issue of substance abuse and mental health disorders,” Greenwalt said.

The funding will support the efforts of a recently hired a licensed clinical social worker who is trained to identify behavioral health issues at the early stages.

Greenwalt said they will also hire a case manager who will work with patients who need extra support. The case manager will help expand the center’s use of an “integration of care” model for coordinating services for patients with both behavioral health and other medical issues, by facilitating collaboration between providers on both sides.

Another six community health centers in Illinois will receive $1.2 million to support partnerships with academic institutions to train more behavioral health workers.

A total of $400 million has been awarded to health centers nationwide.

Follow Christine on Twitter: @CTHerman