Milford-based Bridges Healthcare, Inc. has announced that it has been awarded a two-year, $2 million annual grant by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement program services as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Center.
With the goals of expanding access to care and improving the quality of behavioral health services, the CCBHC model offers enhanced federal matching funds to community behavioral health providers for services delivered to Medicaid beneficiaries. More than 70 percent of Bridges client population is insured by Medicaid.
“Through Project Connect, Bridges will implement a comprehensive and innovative continuum of care that enhances access to vital mental health and substance abuse services, physical health screenings and primary care in Milford, West Haven and Orange and beyond,” said Jennifer Fiorillo, Bridges’ interim CEO. “Bridges enhanced access targets the most difficult to engage and high-risk individuals who often present with polysubstance abuse and severe mental health issues.”
An assertive community treatment delivery model will be implemented at a new clinical site in West Haven, CT for clients requiring a more intensive level of care. This model will focus on recovery and habilitation through the range of services offered by Bridges including case management, care coordination, crisis intervention and stabilization, peer support, medication management, clinical services that are supported by evidence-based practice and access to vocational and social rehabilitation services.
Under the grant, Bridges also plans to expand its mobile medication assisted treatment program to include physical health screenings, testing for HIV and hepatitis and primary care services. The expanded mobile van will travel to designated areas in West Haven and Milford where clients can access peer recovery support and induction for Suboxone.