RALEIGH - The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded a grant to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to plan the establishment of a network of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

​“Through innovative leadership, our administration is focused on bringing together the right partners to deliver whole-person care to North Carolina citizens,” said Governor Pat McCrory in a press release. “This grant is a great step forward toward providing increased access to improved care at lower costs. The grant will help us tackle mental health and other important health issues facing our state.”

The $978,401 grant, part of the 2014 Excellence in Mental Health Act, funds a one-year planning grant for North Carolina and 23 other states. Eight of the states will be selected for two-year pilot programs.

“This grant will allow us to develop a plan that could ultimately lead to behavioral health clinics in communities that can provide whole-person, integrated care – an important component of Governor McCrory’s Task Force on Mental Health and Substance Use,” said DHHS Secretary Rick Brajer, who also co-chairs the Task Force. “This could become a key opportunity to increase resources at the local level that can provide help before a crisis occurs.”

The proposed community behavioral health clinics would expand access to early intervention, and connect people to other services and supports they may need. The North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services and the Division of Medical Assistance will collaborate on this planning grant.

Ultimately, the clinics would become “health homes” and provide a comprehensive array of outpatient mental health and addiction treatment services. The clinics will be unique in that they will integrate medical care and other services with existing mental health and substance use treatment services. Clinics will also offer crisis care, and will establish partnerships with primary care providers, veterans' services and other community resources.

Grant funding will also establish fair and accurate payment rates through Medicaid to facilitate the provision of services required by the Excellence Act.