title: A Technical Assistance Framework to Facilitate the Delivery of Integrated Behavioral Health Services in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
abstract: An implementation approach, featuring direct, onsite technical assistance is described, and findings from a pilot study assessing the capability of Federally Qualified Health Centers to provide integrated behavioral health services are presented. Investigators used the Behavioral Health Integration in Medical Care (BHIMC) index to measure integration at baseline and follow-up at four FQHCs in New Jersey. Results indicate that the average baseline capability score of 1.95 increased to 2.44 at follow-up, almost one-half point on the five-point BHIMC index. This pilot project demonstrates that co-occurring capability can be assessed, and system-wide technical assistance can be delivered to assist FQHCs in integrating behavioral health services. Future research should test technical assistance as an implementation strategy to promote the integration of medical care and behavioral health treatment on a wider scale.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Integration of Research & Practice (CIRP), National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), 71W 23 Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10010. Electronic address: chaple@ndri.org.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaple
authors.affiliation: Center for the Integration of Research & Practice (CIRP), National Development & Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI), 71W 23 Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10010. Electronic address: stansacks@mac.com.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.affiliation: The Nicholson Foundation, 60 Park Place, 19th floor, Newark NJ 07102. Electronic address: jrandell@thenicholsonfoundation.org.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Randell
authors.affiliation: The Nicholson Foundation, 60 Park Place, 19th floor, Newark NJ 07102. Electronic address: bkang@thenicholsonfoundation.org.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Affordable Care Act; Behavioral health; Integrated care; Mental health treatment; Substance use disorders treatment