The Charles Evans Center is Awarded a Federal Grant for Health Clinic

The Charles Evans Center, Inc. (CEC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing integrated healthcare, community rehabilitation and recovery services to historically underserved community members across Long Island, announced that it has been awarded a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Awarded on September 23, 2022, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant for $1,000,000 per year for five years will enable CEC to provide a range of crisis intervention, rehabilitative, outreach, case management and peer support services across the lifespan and regardless of income.

“This money will enable us to augment our clinical services with supports that will promote successful community living for those with behavioral health challenges,” stated Dr. James R. Dolan, Jr., DSW, LCSW, Executive Director of the Charles Evans Center. “This achievement was possible due to remarkable guidance and input received from Joanne McNamara of CohnReznick LLP, and the wonderful grant writing provided by Anne Marie Phillips and Carolyn Driscoll. I would also like to thank Dr. Daniel Vogrin for his invaluable contributions as well as Michael Catanese who played a key role with budgeting,” he added.

CEC was awarded the CCBHC grant to establish a program that will expand and increase access to evidence-based mental health and substance use services to residents of Glen Cove and the surrounding communities. The CCBHC program will provide essential mental health services such as 24-hour mobile crisis teams, screening, and case management to individuals with high needs, including adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and children with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED) and those with co-occurring illness, at-risk members of the armed services or veterans and sub-populations that frequently experience heightened barriers to accessing care, those who are living in poverty and who are under/uninsured. According to a 2019 Health Resources & Service Administration (HRSA) needs assessment, Glen Cove was identified as a pocket of extreme socioeconomic disparity. The area experiences significant behavioral health disparities and elevated mental health and substance use emergency visits as compared to the rest of Long Island and experiences a significant number of fatal overdoses.

Charles Evans Health Center’s CCBHC program anticipates serving 2,400 unique individuals across the lifetime of the grant. CEC is well-positioned to establish a fully-compliant CCBHC program within one year of award and already provides a significant array of mental health and substance use treatment services, as well as primary care services. The CCBHC program will serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age – including developmentally appropriate care for children and youth. To learn more about the CCBHC program or to make an appointment, please call 516.622.8888.

The CCBHC model is transforming behavioral health systems one community at a time. Since its inception, Congress has invested billions of dollars into SAMHSA’s CCBHC grants, including $420 million in American Rescue Plan funding. Recognizing the promise of the CCBHC model, Congress in 2020 expanded the original eight-state Medicaid demonstration program to include additional states, and since 2018 has appropriated grant funding to support CCBHC readiness. Today, more than 450 CCBHCs are operating in 42 states, plus Guam. A growing number of states are moving to implement the model – similar to other value-based or alternative payment models – independently via a state plan amendment or Medicaid waiver. Anyone seeking treatment for mental health or substance use issues should call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or visit https://samhsa.gov/helpline.

About Charles Evans Center (CEC):
Charles Evans Center (CEC) is a not for profit organization that is dedicated to providing integrated healthcare, community rehabilitation and recovery services to improve health outcomes to historically underserved community members across Long Island, New York, with limited incomes including those with autism, learning and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health concerns. CEC provides services under the auspices of the NYS Office of Mental Health, NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports and the NYS Department of Health with an Article 31 and Article 32 clinic, OMH Residential programs, Assertive Community Treatment, Northwell Health Home Care Coordination and Project Hope services. CEC operates Article 28 clinics and is part of a network of FQHC’s under the auspices of Sun River Health. CEC has three locations for medical services on Long Island (Bethpage, Glen Cove, and Hauppauge). For information visit www.charlesevanscenter.org.

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