HARTFORD, CT — The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) Board of Directors awarded the Connecticut Office of the Healthcare Advocate (OHA) a one-year $85,000 grant to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated mental health and substance abuse care. Specifically, the grant will allow OHA to oversee an evaluation of how the state’s Behavioral Health Partnership (BHP), anecdotally regarded by many as a model for the state, delivers mental health care and substance abuse treatment to those on public insurance.
“This project will explore whether the BHP’s public sector innovation is a model that could improve care for those who are privately insured,” said Elizabeth Krause, vice president of policy and communications of the Connecticut Health Foundation.
The BHP’s goal is to provide access to a more complete, coordinated, and effective system of community based behavioral health services and supports. The BHP is a partnership between the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Social Services, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ValueOptions and an Oversight Council.
“The objective evaluation will shed a light on the effectiveness of our public delivery system for mental health and substance use services,” said Victoria Veltri, Office of the Health Care Advocate. “It will set the table for substantial reform in our delivery system by allowing us to determine what works effectively and how to export what works to the private delivery system to improve access of services for all of our residents. Alternatively, it will allow us to improve the costs effectiveness of our current, fragmented system.”
OHA plans to use this evaluation as a springboard for delivery system change. Using findings, OHA will develop an advocacy plan that involves a broad coalition of stakeholders to work for concrete changes toward ensuring one, outstanding and seamless health system for everyone regardless of insurance status, gender, race, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation and geographic location.
“This is an important step in developing advocacy for improved implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in Connecticut, as well as moving toward a more integrated health care system,” said Patricia Baker, president & CEO of CT Health. “OHA is a well-respected institution that has the capacity to ensure that mental health delivery is culturally competent and integrated with primary care.”
Other Grants Awarded
- United Connecticut Action for Neighborhoods, Inc. (Hartford) was awarded a one-year $50,000 grant to organize Hartford families and consumer advocates in systems planning, design, and advocacy with the Department of Social Services and Access Health CT. Additionally, Caring Families Coalition, a project of UCAN, will train its community members about what the state Medicaid Program’s Patient Centered Medical Home initiative means for them as patients expected to be active partners in this enhanced model of primary care delivery.
- University of Connecticut Health Center (Farmington, CT) was awarded a one-year $123,775 grant to develop a new educational program of study to help future health care professionals be better prepared and motivated to promote the oral health of low-income pregnant women. The curriculum will include on-line modules for dental, medical, pharmacy, social work, nursing and dental hygiene students at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels.
- BSL Educational Foundation, Inc. (Hartford) was awarded a $10,000 grant to host their annual “Step Into Wellness” event, which includes education on good lifestyle behaviors.
- Connecticut Legal Rights Project (Middletown) was awarded a $19,000 grant to hire an advocacy expert to collaborate with the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Connecticut’s Keep the Promise Coalition and other organizations to develop proposals, analyze them and respond to new ones.
- Connecticut Health Policy Project, Inc. (New Haven) was awarded a $17,000 grant to expand its Intern Academy and to initiate a series of Health Policy Roundtables to be held at the State Capitol.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) is the state’s largest independent health philanthropy dedicated to improving lives by changing health systems. Since it was established in July 1999, the foundation has supported innovative grant-making, public health policy research, technical assistance and convening to achieve its mission – to improve the health of the people of Connecticut. Over the past 12 years, CT Health has awarded grants totaling close to $50 million in 45 cities and towns throughout the state.
In April 2013, CT Health announced its five-year strategic plan to transition to expand health equity as a focus. For CT Health, health equity means helping more people gain access to better care, especially people of color. Better care includes physical, mental, and oral health.