By Leanna Lehman —
New Frontier Treatment Center, Fallon’s only dedicated substance abuse center, recently earned the distinguished designation of being the state’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).
The designation comes after a rigorous two-year state and federal application and demonstration process. According to The National Council for Behavioral Health, in an effort to combat the mental health crisis in America by increasing access to community mental health and substance use treatment services, The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act (S. 1905/H.R. 3931) was passed in 2017.
Subsequently, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics were created. New Frontier initially entered into the competitive process with 19 other states not only hoping to receive federal funding that would enhance current programs, but to be part of this nation-wide initiative. Only eight states were selected for the program, Nevada among them, with New Frontier leading the state as the first facility to receive certification.
As a CCBHC, new and expanded programs are allowing New Frontier to offer a wide range of core behavioral health services beyond the extent of substance abuse treatment, including 24/7 mental health crisis emergency response and stabilization. Additionally, psychiatric rehabilitation, person-centered treatment planning, and evidence-based out-patient mental health care with integrated treatment for co-curring conditions.
According to Lana Robards, program director of New Frontier, many clients have mental health conditions that need to be treated along with addiction and substance abuse. With more resources, New Frontier and can now offer assistance to additional members of the community; adults, adolescents, transitional-aged youth, and their families as well as armed service members and veterans. “Now, we are able to assess and treat the entire person and their family,” states Robards, “We have become a ‘safety-net’ facility.”
As a CCBHC, New Frontier’s scope of care now also includes a medical component with a focus on total health and wellness, allowing for assistance with chronic disease management. Robards explains that risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure are often common among behavioral health clients and need to be managed. With two nurses now on staff and a dedicated, local physician providing medical care, clients’ physical needs can now be monitored more closely, resulting in better overall care.
With substance abuse intervention services, innovative gambling and nicotine addiction programs, extensive parenting programs, food pantries, transportation, basic life skills, peer recovery and support along with numerous other supportive programs, New Frontier can provide community members access to real wellness and recovery. “We have been able to become a one-stop shop for our clients,” Robards states.
Mental Health America places Nevada as the lowest ranking state in the nation year over year, reporting a higher prevalence of mental illness with lower rates of access to care. Data shows that 2 out of 3 people with mental illness in Nevada do not receive care.
It is unclear why the prevalence of mental health issues are higher than the national average, but the hope is that the Excellence in Mental Health initiative along with boots-on-ground programs like New Frontier as a Community Certified Behavioral Health Clinic, will see this trend reverse.
Since the initial federal designation, Vitality in Elko and Bridge Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers in Las Vegas have also received the CCBHC certifications. With more facilities in rural counties following in kind, Nevadans will now have unprecedented access to behavioral and mental health care.
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