SAMHSA Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) Grant

Funder: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Award Duration: 2 years

Geographic Scope: 8 Counties in Northwest Arkansas, operations in 150+ schools

Focus Areas:

• Delivering services to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI)
• Services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance (SED)
• Support for individuals with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders (COD)
• Restoring and enhancing clinical services impacted by COVID-19
• Expanding crisis response services
• Building staff capacity

Program Description:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) awarded Ozark Guidance, an affiliate of Arisa Health, a $5,000,000 Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) grant to deliver services over two years. The grant addresses unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic that hindered the agency's ability to adequately serve the client population.

Project Goals:

• Expand Ozark Guidance's capacity to support consumers by hiring additional staff
• Increase access to services
• Build staff capacity through training, education, and technology
• Enhance crisis response services

Organization Details:
Ozark Guidance Center is a nonprofit Community Mental Health Center serving 8 counties in Northwest Arkansas, operating in over 150 schools and governed by a local board of directors.

Award Date: October 2021

Key Quotes:
This funding will allow Ozark Guidance to better address the behavioral health care needs of the people in our community and enhance the delivery of clinical services that were impacted by Covid-19." - Dr. Erica Boughfman, Arisa Health Northwest Region Vice President of Clinical Services

Additional Resources:
More information available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/202109281153